Te-Hina Paopao explains decision to return to South Carolina

South Carolina senior Te-Hina Paopao announced her intention to return to Columbia for the 2024-25 season ahead of the Gamecocks’ SEC Tournament schedule.

Ahead of the Gamecocks’ quarterfinal matchup against Texas A&M, Paopao explained what went into her decision to return, and what she thought of the way she announced it.

“There wasn’t a specific time to when I made the decision to come back,” Paopao told reporters ahead of Friday’s SEC Tournament quarterfinals. “I thought the video was a special type of coming out, like a coming out to come back. It was just a very special moment for me and my family and everyone else. And I thought my dad did a great job doing it.

“But it’s just an amazing feeling to know that I’m coming back and I want it I definitely wanted to get it out before the SEC Tournament and the Big Dance so I could just lock in on the games and focus on what we need to do.”

Her father, Paul, was recorded making a phone call to South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, where he broke down how his daughter’s love for basketball has been reignited in Columbia. She’s enjoyed her stay so much — that she’s not ready to leave just yet and will use her final season of eligibility to play for Staley one more season.

During her first regular season in Columbia, Paopao averaged 11.5 points per game (third on South Carolina) while shooting a career-best 48.3% from the field. She has distributed the ball well too, currently second on the Gamecocks with 3.8 assists per game.

Before transferring into South Carolina for her fourth season of college basketball, Paopao was a first-team all-Pac-12 selection in 2021 and 2022, and an honorable mention all-conference selection last season.

From a scoring perspective, consistency has been the name of the game for Paopao. Of South Carolina’s 26 regular season games, she was in double figures in 19 of them. Paopao had a season-high 21 points in the midseason non-conference showdown against UConn, her best performance since transferring over.

“I’ve just felt love from day one,” Paopao continued. “The genuine love and support from everyone, girls and coaches. It was just been a it’s been a fun ride and I’m excited to continue that.”

The Gamecocks will open Friday’s SEC Tournament action as they take on Texas A&M at Noon ET. Every game of the conference tournament’s quarterfinal round will air live on the SEC Network. If South Carolina advances, they’ll face the winner of Tennessee and Alabama.