South Carolina women's basketball: Player-by-player look at next season (Part 2)

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South Carolina returns four starters and the top two reserves from the national championship team, but the Gamecocks also saw six players leave, brought in three newcomers, and have to find a new point guard. We take a player-by-player look at what next season’s team will fit together.

Today we look at the frontcourt. You can read about the backcourt HERE.

*player has the option of using a COVID season

Laeticia Amihere (6-4, RS Senior*, Forward)

16.8 mpg, 6.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 43.6 FG%, 45.5 3PT%

Pros: Amihere started to come into her own in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, and she carried that into last season. She played with more confidence and her versatility was on display, including a three-game stint as the starting point guard. She came close to dunking several times, displaying a return to the athleticism she had before knee injuries limited her.

Cons: The flip side of versatility is not having a natural position. Amihere could be on the wrong side of mismatches, especially against teams that play four guards.

Needs to improve: Consistency and assertiveness. Amihere significantly cut down on the bad games last season and doesn’t have a glaring weakness, but you’re not quite sure what you are getting from her game-to-game.  If she is more aggressive, she is probably more consistent. 

Projection: Amihere has emerged as one of the team leaders. She has mentored Raven Johnson through Johnson’s knee injury, and has been a leader off the court. She always has her familiar role as the backup forward, but Amihere might be a glue player this year, playing multiple positions depending on matchups and making room for 

Aliyah Boston (6-5, Senior*, Post)

28.5 mpg, 16.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 2.4 bpg, 2.0 apg, 1.2 spg, 54.2 FG%, 29.2 3PT%, 77.1 FT%

Pros: The best player in the country. One of the best seasons in program history. Her 28-point, 22-rebound, two-assist game against North Carolina when she scored every Gamecock point in the decisive fourth quarter might be the best single game in program history.

Cons: Boston did commit a career-high 57 turnovers. There were a couple of ill-advised and fatigued three-point attempts late in fourth quarters.

Needs to improve: Boston has gotten off to a slow start in each of the last two seasons. And about the only part of her arsenal that isn’t elite is her three-point shooting. If she starts hitting 35% or higher she’d be unguardable.

Projection: Last offseason I wrote – “In March Boston seemed to learn how to dominate the game: there was a noticeable change in how she carried herself on and off the court that seemed to be the realization that she might be the best player in the country. Combine that with the motivation from the missed game-winner in the Final Four, and Boston should be the SEC Player of the Year and maybe add another National Player of the Year.”

Boston won’t have the same source of motivation, but she has a chance to cement her legacy alongside Sheila Foster and A’ja Wilson as the best player in program history, become the top pick in the WNBA Draft, and set several school records along the way. Boston downplays individual achievements publicly, but they mean a lot to her privately. Her legacy should provide ample motivation.

Kamilla Cardoso (6-7, Junior*, Post)

13.3 mpg, 5.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.4 bpg, 55.3 FG%

Pros: Cardoso could be unguardable. She was huge in the NCAA Tournament win over Miami, with 11 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks. She also had double-doubles against Kansas State and Buffalo. Almost nobody can match up with Cardoso’s size.

Cons: Cardoso needed to be more assertive. Dawn Staley begged her to shoot more often, and at times Cardoso seemed too concerned with being a team player.

Needs to improve: Mostly Cardoso needs to be more assertive. A 15-foot jump shot would make Cardoso a nightmare to defend. Brittney Griner’s 19-foot jumper might be the most unstoppable shot in the WNBA. Cardoso isn’t there yet, but she could be one day.

Projection: Cardoso will have a bigger impact this season. She’ll still be the backup center, but she’ll be more comfortable with what the Gamecocks want from her. She and Boston also have a year of experience how to play off each other.

Sania Feagin (6-3, Sophomore, Forward)

4.3 mpg, 1.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.4 bpg, 61.8 FG%

Pros: Feagin flashed tantalizing potential, whether it was going coast-to-coast against Georgia or 10 points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes against Howard.

Cons: It was only flashes, and it was almost entirely in garbage time.

Needs to improve: Feagin needs to get stronger. Against Georgia, one of the few times she played rotation minutes, the Lady Bulldogs’ Jenna Staiti was able to easily outmuscle Feagin in the post.

Projection: Feagin and Raven Johnson are the players I’m most excited to see this season. Feagin was held back by design, not lack of ability. She has been dedicated to getting stronger and should make it really difficult for Staley to figure out playing time in the frontcourt.

Victaria Saxton (6-2, Super Senior, Power Forward)

21.5 mpg, 5.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 1.2 apg, 50.3 FG%

Pros: Saxton scored less last season than she did as a junior, but she rebounded, defended, and passed better. Saxton had 43 assists last season after dishing out just 29 total her first three seasons. She does all the little things on both ends of the court and plays with constant energy. She is strong enough to battle bigger players, yet quick enough to stay with smaller players.

Cons: Saxton remains somewhat limited offensively. Although she mostly overcomes it, her tweener size means she is almost always either smaller than or slower than her opponent.

Needs to improve: Saxton has developed a decent 15-foot jumper. If she can continue to get better, the mid-range jumper is one of the most dangerous weapons a post player has and it would really punish teams who try the big double team of Boston with Saxton’s defender.

Projection: There probably won’t be any big changes from Saxton (although the assist numbers last season shows she is still improving), but that’s not a bad thing. Being a reliable, high production, low maintenance player may not be glamorous, but it wins championships.

Ashlyn Watkins (6-3, Freshman, Post)

#12 overall prospect, 2022 South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year, McDonald’s All-American

Projection: Watkins is a super-athletic prospect, probably the most athletic player South Carolina has ever had. That being said, South Carolina is absolutely loaded in the frontcourt. Watkins will probably only play in blowouts while she uses the season to get stronger and learn the college game.

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