Sometimes, all it takes is one moment. For Class of 2027 standout Eve Long, that moment came during an AAU game when a goaltending call turned into an offer from Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks.
The 6-foot-3 forward out of Olathe South High School captured the attention of South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley, who attended her AAU game. During a moment in a game, Long thought she had made a clean block. She slapped the backboard in the process and was controversially called for goaltending.
Almost instantly, Staley took to X, blasting the controversial call, while siding with Long. She wrote:
“Dizzam! I’m sitting here at a game, an AAU game and this is the first time I’ve ever witnessed a goaltending call in a girls game. Unbelievable athletic play on the ball. Goaltending hhhhhmmmm. Anyhoo…. sign the offender up @GamecockWBB let’s goooo 😂😂😂😂”
Here, by “offender,” she meant Eve Long. And yes, she was offered. Staley later tweeted that officials admitted the call was incorrect. Long said she thanked the coach after that, adding even she was surprised by the call.
On Friday, Long shared the whole sequence of events in her X post. She wrote:
“The story of an offer ➡️ @dawnstaley attends our game. I go for a block miss it 🙃 slap the backboard, 🦓😮💨 calls goaltending 🫣😱! Dawn tweets… Couple days later we’re chatting on the 📱”
The story of an offer ➡️ @dawnstaley attends our game. I go for a block miss it 🙃 slap the backboard, 🦓😮💨 calls goaltending 🫣😱!
Dawn tweets… Couple days later we're chatting on the 📱
Thanks to: https://t.co/hjyBph679t for the graphic! pic.twitter.com/j2bX6MzfEy— 𝔼𝕧𝕖 𝕃𝕠𝕟𝕘 (@eve_long23) July 25, 2025
Long now holds an official offer from the University of South Carolina, which is one of the best programs in the nation, headed by none other than Dawn Staley.
Who is Eve Long, who received an offer from Dawn Staley?
Eve Long is a five-star recruit from Kansas. She is a key member of the USA U16 Women’s National Team. She even participated in the recently concluded FIBA AmeriCup, where Team USA won the gold medal game against Brazil. Long averaged 11.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, and also earned a spot on the tournament’s All-Star Five.
Dawn Staley’s South Carolina posted a 35-4 record last season. The Gamecocks had the best record in the SEC regular season play, but they were defeated in the NCAA title game against Geno Auriemma’s UConn Huskies.
Staley has taken to the transfer portal and brought on experienced veterans like 6′6″ center Madina Okot and standout guard Ta’Niya Latson. This, combined with her stellar high school recruiting, should make the Gamecocks a serious contender for years to come.
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