WBB: South Carolina adds transfer portal guard
South Carolina Women’s Basketball: News • Recruiting • Schedule • Roster • Stats • SEC • Polls • Scholarships
Oregon transfer guard Te-Hina Paopao has committed to South Carolina.
Paopao visited South Carolina last weekend. Dawn Staley teased the commitment with a “birdie tweet” Sunday afternoon.
Paopao played three seasons at Oregon. She has two seasons of eligibility remaining, including a COVID year. She was the sixth-ranked available transfer according to The Athletic and seventh-ranked according to ESPN.
Last season, Paopao averaged 13.1 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, but the eye-popping numbers were her shooting percentages. Paopao shot 44% overall and 42.4% from three.
[Subscribe to Gamecock Central until Aug. 31 for only $29.99!]
MORE: What Te-Hina Paopao brings to Gamecocks
Paopao was the 11th-ranked player in the 2020 recruiting class. She dealt with injuries during her first two seasons but started every game last season and was named honorable mention All-Pac 12. She was first team All-Pac 12 as a freshman and sophomore.
Top 10
- 1New
Record shattered
ND vs. OSU ticket prices
- 2
Litigation coming?
Wisconsin DB enrolls at Miami without entering portal
- 3
Doubling-down
Bill Belichick, unsigned UNC contract
- 4
Massive fine
Sun Belt fines Marshall for bowl opt out
- 5Hot
Dick Vitale
ESPN icon returning to mic
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Paopao joins a Gamecock backcourt that is big on potential but limited in experience. Bree Hall and Chloe Kitts can play guard, but project to play mostly on the wing. That leaves Raven Johnson as the only player with experience.
Talaysia Cooper is a former South Carolina state player of the year and scored 15 points against Texas A&M, but she only played in blowouts. Incoming freshmen Milaysia Fulwiley (South Carolina) and Tessa Johnson (Minnesota) were each named Gatorade state players of the year.
[Become a “FAM” Member, support USC women’s basketball]
Paopao provides an experienced lead guard to share ball-handling duties with Raven Johnson, as well as a bridge to help the other young players adapt. She also provides something the Gamecocks have sorely lacked: three-point shooting.
As a team last year, South Carolina made 163 threes (and departed Zia Cooke and Brea Beal were responsible for 101 of those). Individually, Paopao hit 81 threes. She immediately transforms how teams can defend South Carolina.
