Top recruit Joyce Edwards signs with South Carolina. Dawn Staley reacts
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley gave Joyce Edwards her first Power 5 offer four years ago.
Wednesday night, Edwards announced her decision to play for Staley and the Gamecocks.
The 6-foot-2 forward and No. 2 overall recruit in the Class of 2024 became the third player in USC’s already stacked incoming class. South Carolina is now tied with UCLA and Southern Cal for the most five-star recruits with three each.
USC confirmed Edwards’ signing as being official soon after her public announcement.
“Joyce is an incredibly blessed athlete that has transcended three high school sports,” Staley said through a school statement. “As she begins her college career with her focus on basketball, look for her to excel on this platform. She is gifted with size, speed, skill and an uncommon feel for the game. Her intelligence on the court and in the classroom will not be denied. We cannot wait to begin our journey with this young woman.”
Staley said this last week about the Gamecocks’ other five-star signees:
On PG Maddy McDaniel - Upper Marlboro, Md.: “She has court vision and the ability shoot and get to the rim, but what sets her apart is that she makes good decisions in the moment and has team success as her top priority,” Dawn Staley said in a press release. “Madisen has been well coached and played at an elite level, so I know that she fits our culture and that the FAMS will love to watch her play.”
On post Adhel Tac - Grand Prairie, Tx.: “Adhel’s interior presence and high motor allow her to impact the game in some many ways,” Staley said in a statement. “She is more than a gifted basketball player, though; she is an exceptional person who we look forward to having in Columbia. I know the FAMS will fall in love with her, too.”