South Carolina women's basketball: Transfer Maryam Dauda commits to the Gamecocks
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Former Arkansas post Maryam Dauda announced her commitment to South Carolina. The former McDonald’s All-American has two years of eligibility remaining.
Dauda tore her ACL late in her high school career in Bentonville, AR, and redshirted her first year at Arkansas. As a redshirt freshman, Dauda appeared in 35 games, averaging 3.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in 11 minutes per game.
She made a big jump last season, starting all 33 games and playing 28.7 minutes. Dauda averaged 10.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.24 blocks. She hit 31.9% from three and added 1.2 assists.
Dauda scored a then-career-high 19 against South Carolina and went 3-12 from three. She topped that with 22 points against Tulsa in the WBIT. In January, Dauda blocked a career-high 10 shots against Alabama.
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After South Carolina beat Arkansas 98-61 in February, Dawn Staley was effusive in her praise for Dauda.
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“She’s good. She’s good,” Staley said after South Carolina played Arkansas. “A big that has great footwork, a big that can shoot the three, a big that keeps you off balance. She can put the ball on the floor. She’s really, really good. I was very, very impressed. I found myself complimenting her with what she was able to do out there on the floor.”
South Carolina returns everyone except Kamilla Cardoso from last season’s undefeated national championship team. The Gamecocks didn’t need to add any help from the portal, but Dauda helps bolster the frontcourt and replace Cardoso’s rim protection.
Ashlyn Watkins figures to take over the starting post position. Redshirt freshman Adhel Tac, who was the second-ranked post in the 2024 class, is the primary backup. Sakima Walker has an optional year of eligibility remaining but has not announced whether she will use it. Walker played sparingly but was a valuable locker-room presence last season.
Dauda has some areas for improvement. She averaged over two turnovers per game and almost three fouls (only fouling out once, but committing at least four fouls 12 times). She only shot 45.5%, which is low for a post. But simply moving away from Arkansas’ five-out offense might be a fix.
