South Carolina women's basketball 2024 recruiting outlook
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This is a typical recruiting cycle in that South Carolina will look to sign three or four players. The Gamecocks have nine players for next season, plus three seniors who could return for an extra COVID season.
(If you did the math – yes, if all nine players return, and all three seniors return, and they sign four players, that’s 16. Somebody would get squeezed out, but that’s a problem for another day.)
South Carolina appears to be happy with its roster of point guards. The only point guard they are recruiting is top overall prospect Jaloni Cambridge. The coaches must be confident that either Talaysia Cooper or Milaysia Fulwiley, who each played point guard in high school, will be able to run the team.
South Carolina needs a forward and a wing/big guard. With more and more teams playing a four-out style, the distinction in these positions is becoming fuzzier so I’m grouping them together. Whichever position they are labeled, South Carolina could use a couple of strong, athletic players about 6-2.
The Gamecocks’ biggest need is signing a post. Kamilla Cardoso and Sakima Walker are both seniors this season, although they could return for an extra COVID season. Fortunately, 2024 is a good class for bigs.
Kate Koval and Blanca Thomas are the two main priorities for South Carolina at the post position, but they have plenty of competition for both.
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Here are the players South Carolina is known to be recruiting:
Imari Berry made a huge jump from 32 to 12. The Lady Vols have notoriously struggled to sign high school players under Kellie Harper, and Berry is going to be another test of that. So far, and probably wisely given her improving stock, Berry hasn’t tipped her hand as to where she might go to college.
Mikayla Blakes dropped to 25th in the rankings. She has dropped in each of the last three rankings. There could be a lot of reasons she is dropping, but it is still discouraging.
Jaloni Cambridge and Joyce Edwards remain entrenched as the top two prospects. Edwards had long been the top prospect, but Cambridge replaced her in the last two rankings. Both are keeping their recruitment low-key, but South Carolina is very involved with both and has to be considered the favorite to land Edwards.
Justice Carlton dropped a single spot to fourth. She’s been relatively quiet with her recruitment.
Toby Fournier continues to move up the rankings, but there hasn’t been any movement in her recruiting since she announced her finalists in October.
Kate Koval has steadily climbed the rankings and made a big jump to third. Her potential is off the charts and everyone is interested. South Carolina is one of the few programs that still features traditional posts like Koval, although losing assistant Fred Chmiel, who coached bigs, changes the recruiting pitch.
Kennedy Smith was one of the last players in the class to receive an offer from South Carolina, but she has risen to the top ten. Smith is a shooter with long range, and she led her team to the California state championship, beating the more-heralded Archbishop Mitty for the title.
Sarah Strong held steady at fifth in the rankings, but it still seems that she is likely headed to NC State.
Charlotte’s Blanca Thomas holds steady at tenth. She’s a key target for the Gamecocks, but there is plenty of competition.
Kennedy Ume remains at 27. There hasn’t been much movement in her recruitment, at least publicly.
For additional details about South Carolina’s 2024 recruiting, including links to each player’s bio, click HERE.
