South Carolina women's basketball: Joyce Edwards talks Gatorade Player of the Year award and goals for next season

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Last week, GamecockCentral had an opportunity to interview South Carolina freshman Joyce Edwards, the Gatorade National Player of the Year. The award was presented to Edwards in March by former Oregon star and two-time WNBA All-Star Satou Sabally, who was also part of the interview. 

The interview took place on July 11, while Edwards and the other Gatorade Players of the Year were in Los Angeles for a week of festivities. It was merely the latest part of a whirlwind summer for Edwards: she moved into her room at South Carolina, participated in her first practices, attended USA Basketball training camp in Colorado, and won a gold medal at the U17 World Cup in Colombia.

Edwards got back to Columbia just in time to head to Los Angeles, where she was eventually joined by her new teammates, who won Best Team at the ESPYS, which Edwards also attended.

Q: Joyce, this summer it seems like you haven’t stayed in the same place for more than a few days at a time. What’s this summer been like for you?
Edwards: Kind of crazy. I moved into USC June 7 or June 8, something like that. And I literally had to leave the next day to go to USA Basketball. So it was different. But doing USA Basketball before, I was kind of comfortable doing that (this time) and then coming right back. Obviously, we had, we had this big LA celebration, but I did get to practice with the team for a couple weeks. It’s definitely a transition from high school to college, but I’m making the most of it, and I think the challenge is something that I’m looking forward to.

Q: What’s this time in Los Angeles been like, for you?
Edwards: It’s been good, it’s been crazy. I mean, I’m in LA! I’ve never been here before. I never got to experience LA before. So this is really the first time having this experience. Like going bowling two days ago and celebrations today were really fun just hanging around the talented players. Obviously, all of the national Gatorade Players over the years is crazy. We have the same mentality and stuff like that. It was nice to get to network with people and get to know other people.

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Q: Satou, why did you want to be involved with the Gatorade Player of the Year Award? And why did you want to present to Joyce?
Sabally: I think, first of all, it’s a great honor to me to be able to highlight and celebrate the future. Since then, I’ve just been following Joyce a little bit more, and it’s self-explanatory why she won that award and why she’s at the level that she is. It’s really self-explanatory, too, for me then to come and really want to do that. So I’m excited.

Q: You’re not that much older than Joyce, but what do you see in Her? You talked about mentoring her and helping grow the game. What do you see in Joyce that makes you think that she can be part of the next evolution of the game?
Sabally: The first thing that strikes out to me is really discipline. Obviously, she’s already accustomed to a really busy schedule, and not everyone can do that. It’s always a lot of pressure. Going to the national team and in school maintaining a high academic level, also, while giving the performances that she already had with 30 pieces on average. So that is really something that strikes out to me, but also her personality – just remaining humble and remaining hungry. So in every single interview, I remember in March, she was really preaching that she wanted to give her all and wanted to keep learning. And those are character traits of people who will who will come far.

Q: If you could only give Joyce one piece of advice, what would it be?
Sabally: Have fun and enjoy the time with your teammates in the locker room. Really, that’s like – I miss my teammates at Oregon so much, and now we’re adults. College is also way less time that you have to keep that way and treasure that way, because it is serious, but that locker room is really an intimate space of teammates that you will never forget.

Q: Joyce, you’ve won a lot of different awards. Why is winning Gatorade Player of the Year special for you?
Edwards: I mean, it’s Gatorade. The title speaks for itself. You go play outside as like e a five-year-old kid, you’re grabbing the Gatorade. You go to an AAU tournament., you can grab a Gatorade. It’s kind of there every stage of development. I mean, you may not even realize it. So Gatorade is a huge brand, and it’s just something special.

Q: What are your goals going into your freshman season?
Edwards: Good question. Well, first I want to get my work done. You know, academics first. But obviously on the court, just playing my role, you know, coming in, not trying to do too much. Obviously, defensive mindset first, because that should get you on the court, and then I feel like my offense will come. I feel like I had this transition before of like going from an experience where I’m dominating to something that’s completely different and I’m not dominating before. So I kind of know how to do it. I know what I need to do to transition seamlessly into college. But yeah, just play my role, not trying to do too much, not trying too much pressure on myself.

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