Dawn Staley predicts Ayla McDowell will be a team captain one day

While she has yet to play a minute for, practice with or even enroll at South Carolina, Dawn Staley already has high hopes for new signee Ayla McDowell.

A five-star prospect and the No. 23 prospect in the 2025 signing class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, McDowell signed with the Gamecocks after committing in late October. And Staley is already raving about what McDowell could bring in the years to come.

“Ayla, I mean, she’s a great addition,” Staley said. “She’s a big, long guard that can score, that can defend. Quality individual. Like, sh*t, she will one day be a captain. She is that put together when it comes to — she wants to be a pro. She wants to take the world by storm and she feels like we’re the best program to put her in that position and we’re incredibly happy to have her.”

McDowell, a 6-foot-2 wing from Cypress (Texas) Cy Springs High School, chose the Gamecocks over Georgia Tech, Florida, TCU, LSU and Mississippi State. On3 recently submitted a prediction for McDowell to choose the Gamecocks.

“It was just a great environment,” McDowell told On3 shortly after her official visit to South Carolina. “I felt loved by the coaches, loved by the players. I got to see everything. I didn’t expect it to be as good as I thought it was going to be, but it’s pretty chill. South Carolina is a good place to be. Everything is very close by and engineering is amazing as well. So, I mean, I just felt loved. I’ve been talking to Dawn [Staley] for some time now, and it’s always a good conversation when we’re on the phone.”

The biggest factor in making her decision was the relationships she formed with the coaching staff.

“It’s just the relationships with everybody,” McDowell said. “I want to go somewhere where I don’t feel homesick because I’m not going to be at home. I just want to feel somewhere where I’m loved and honestly, just like the resources academically and basketball-wise. I just need all the resources I can get.”

Ayla McDowell plays for Cy Fair Elite, who won the national championship on the Nike circuit this summer. She averaged 13.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. 

On3’s Talia Goodman contributed to this report.