Recruitment remains the name of the game through April in women’s college basketball, and it seems that Dawn Staley might have slipped on it halfway through the month. Five-star recruit Oliviyah Edwards has long been linked with Dawn Staley’s South Carolina, but more recently, she took a trip to Louisville to check on the Cardinals of the ACC.
Edwards is a McDonald’s All-American who is considered the fifth-best player in the nation and the top power forward in the class of 2026. She’s also the best recruit out of the state of Washington, according to 247Sports.
It’s important to point out that she has already signed a letter of intent with the Tennessee Volunteers, but in this day and age of college recruitment and NIL, letters of intent have turned more into a positive sign in the recruitment process than a serious commitment from the would-be student-athletes.
At 6’3″, she’s considered a rare mix of athleticism and skill, and is highly sought after by several schools. Besides the Gamecocks, Volunteers, and Cardinals, the USC Trojans and the LSU Tigers are reportedly interested in her.
Dawn Staley gets Texas’ Jordan Lee through the transfer portal
It’s not all bad news for Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks. This Thursday, the school got Texas sophomore guard Jordan Lee through the transfer portal. Lee is an SEC All-Freshman Team selection from 2025 and a McDonald’s All-American from her senior year of high school in 2024.
Lee spent two seasons playing for the Texas Longhorns in Austin and is now transferring to South Carolina, likely to fill the void left by outgoing guards Ta’Niya Latson and Raven Johnson, who ran out of eligibility this season and are heading to the WNBA now, after having been drafted in the second and first rounds of the WNBA Draft this week.
Jordan Lee averaged 13.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game this past season for Texas. Her field goal percentage was 42.2%. All those are career-highs for her in a season in which she went from bench player to established starter, starting in 38 games out of 39.
Read more:
Dawn Staley Drops Quirky Welcome Message for Transfer Guard from SEC Rival
Bella Hines’ Transfer Portal Move Away From Kim Mulkey’s LSU Draws Heartfelt Note From TCU Teammate
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