For starters, the Gamecocks aren't going to be very active in the portal and for good reason. They've got unbelievable team chemistry and thus far only Kamilla Cardoso is leaving. Sahnya Jah entered the portal as well but she was dismissed from the team in early February. Sakima Walker has not announced if she will be entering the transfer portal. Walker played in 31 of 38 games this season and averaged 2 points and 1.3 rebounds a game. Her role is not likely to increase if she stays. South Carolina is her third stop after Rutgers and Juco, so she might be tired of moving. She's a Columbus, OH native and has one more of eligibility. When not playing, Walker was almost like a coach on the bench and would often sit next to the freshman when they were struggling. She might want to stick around under the best for 1 more year. The staff is very high on 6'5 Adhel Tac. Tac was ranked as the 33rd best prospect by Hoop Gurlz for 2024. She would have been ranked higher but she essentially missed two seasons of high school basketball with injuries. After suffering a season ending injury in November, the Grand Prairie, TX native enrolled at USC in January, just as Chloe Kitts did last year. It would appear that Dawn wanted her sx/rehab done in-house. Tac dislocated her knee cap and tore her medial patellofemoral ligament, she underwent surgery on February 2,. Staley has said she compares Tac's defensive presence to Aliyah Boston.
South Carolina doesn't have to add anything in the portal, but they are looking for a 6'4- 6'5 post in case Tac isn't completely ready to go for next season. There is also the category of player that is "too good to turn down," but there are maybe 1-2 players in the portal that fit that bill that would be an immediate upgrade on a team full of All-Americans that Staley returns in 2025.
Here are some of the bigger names in the portal and if SC will likely have interest:
Kiki Iriafen (Stanford)- She averaged 19.6 ppg and 11 RPG. She's leaving Stanford after the retirement of Tara VanDerveer. Iriafen is a native of Los Angeles and it is believed that UCLA and So Cal are the frontrunners. She's 6'3 but falls in the category of too good to pass up. Iriafen has a do not contact designation which she likely knows where she is going or has a narrow list. Committed to So Cal.
Georgia Amoore (Virginia Tech)- As expected she followed head coach Kenny Brooks to Kentucky.
Raegan Beers (Oregon State)- the Beavers have had a mass exodus from Corvallis due to the PAC12 implosion and Oregon State no longer having a home in a power basketball conference. UConn is the favorite here. Beers is a good player but she doesn't fit South Carolina's uptempo style. Took a visit to Oklahoma April 20th. OU appears on the verge on hiring the Oregon State assistant coach that recruited Bears- if so, got to think OU takes over in the driver seat. Beers is down to Oklahoma and UConn. I think OU has the momentum.
Lucy Olsen (Villanova)- She's one of the better scorers in the portal. Iowa is pushing really hard here. 5'9 guard has one season left to play. She averaged 23.3 pts and Iowa has some pretty big shoes to fill. She did commit to Iowa.
Timea Gardiner (Oregon St)- No interest from Carolina. She's a Utah native and would be a nice replacement for Alissa Pili.
Taliah Scott (Arkansas)- She lit up the first 2 months of the season for Arkansas and then mysteriously disappeared. Her entering the transfer portal was a given. She committed to Auburn with three years left to play. Committed to Auburn.
Grace VanSlooten (Oregon)- 6'3 forward with no outside shot, so not someone Carolina would look at. She's an Ohio native and probably headed to Ohio State. Committed to Mich State.
Kaitlyn Chen (Princeton)- 5'9 senior guard- probably headed out west. Committed to UConn.
Janiah Barker (Texas A&M)- Staley nearly got a commitment from out of HS. She's somewhere between 6'2 and 6'4. She's not a great defensive player but averages 12 ppg on offensive throughout her career. She has two years left. Could be some interest here but the staff would have to remold her game to fit Dawn's style of play.
Hailey Van Lith (LSU)- left after Mulkey got her embarrassed against Caitlin Clark. HVL was playing out of position for LSU all season. She needs to be a SG and not a PG- minus defender for sure. Not a fit at SC. She's visited Miss State. I've also seen Kentucky is interested. Committed to TCU, or did she. HVL has now come out and said that she has not committed anywhere. Seems strange since multiple outlets reports that she had committed to TCU last week. She ended up committing to TCU after all.
Deja Kelly (UNC)- she was gassed in second round tourney game in Columbia and it showed as the Gamecocks ate her alive. The Texas native has one year remaining. Kelly isn't much of a 3-point shooter. Rumor is LSU- Mulkey not learning her lesson as she takes another non-PG that she is going to play at PG.
Charlisse Leger-Walker (Wash St)- torn ACL in January- she's probably taking a medical redshirt next season where ever she ends up. She's a PG and won't get a look from SC. Committed to UCLA- nice pick for the Bruins that are currently living in the shadow of their cross town rival.
Talia von Oelhoffen (Oreg St)- really nice versatile player with a year remaining. I think Dawn would like her- but there just isn't a spot in Columbia.
Maddie Scherr (Kentucky)- Not a take for Carolina. She's likely headed to Iowa or Indiana for his last season. Committed to TCU
There are others but lets get to some players that SC might be interested in:
Teonni Key (UNC)- her stats aren't impressive but if Walker moves on she might be a take for Carolina at 6'4. She was the #9 overall prospect in 2021 and heavily considered the Gamecocks. Committed to Kentucky
Lety Vasconcelos (Baylor)- She's 6'7 but didn't do much her first season at Baylor.
Hannah Gusters (Ok State)- 6'5 post averaged 14.3 ppg but only 4.1 rpg last season. She played one season at Baylor, LSU, and OK St. Doesn't have the best reputation so she is likely a pass. Committed to UCF.
Amari DeBerry (UConn)- 6'5 post was the #15 overall player in the stacked 2020 class. For whatever reason she could never get going at UConn. She only averaged 4.5 mins and 1 point this season. Committed to Maryland.
Kennedy Basham (Oregon)- 6'7 post. She's 6'7 and 6'7 doesn't grow on trees. She was the #59 player in the 22' class. Only averaged 4.5 ppg this season. Committed to Arizona State
Saylor Poffenbarger (Arkansas)- She's only 6'2 but she was one of the better rebounders in the SEC. Also averages 10.2 ppg. Originally at UConn she was the 30th rated player in the 21' class. Committed to Maryland.
LSU has seen two players from their highly rated 23' class transfer out in Angelica Velez and Janae Kent. Both are guards and didn't play much this season. LSU is going to continue to be thin with some very high-end talent. Kent committed to Texas A&M.
The portal remains open until May 1. Graduate transfers can enter at any time and players affected by a head coaching change after the May 1 deadline are also eligible to enter.
South Carolina doesn't have to add anything in the portal, but they are looking for a 6'4- 6'5 post in case Tac isn't completely ready to go for next season. There is also the category of player that is "too good to turn down," but there are maybe 1-2 players in the portal that fit that bill that would be an immediate upgrade on a team full of All-Americans that Staley returns in 2025.
Here are some of the bigger names in the portal and if SC will likely have interest:
Kiki Iriafen (Stanford)- She averaged 19.6 ppg and 11 RPG. She's leaving Stanford after the retirement of Tara VanDerveer. Iriafen is a native of Los Angeles and it is believed that UCLA and So Cal are the frontrunners. She's 6'3 but falls in the category of too good to pass up. Iriafen has a do not contact designation which she likely knows where she is going or has a narrow list. Committed to So Cal.
Georgia Amoore (Virginia Tech)- As expected she followed head coach Kenny Brooks to Kentucky.
Raegan Beers (Oregon State)- the Beavers have had a mass exodus from Corvallis due to the PAC12 implosion and Oregon State no longer having a home in a power basketball conference. UConn is the favorite here. Beers is a good player but she doesn't fit South Carolina's uptempo style. Took a visit to Oklahoma April 20th. OU appears on the verge on hiring the Oregon State assistant coach that recruited Bears- if so, got to think OU takes over in the driver seat. Beers is down to Oklahoma and UConn. I think OU has the momentum.
Lucy Olsen (Villanova)- She's one of the better scorers in the portal. Iowa is pushing really hard here. 5'9 guard has one season left to play. She averaged 23.3 pts and Iowa has some pretty big shoes to fill. She did commit to Iowa.
Timea Gardiner (Oregon St)- No interest from Carolina. She's a Utah native and would be a nice replacement for Alissa Pili.
Taliah Scott (Arkansas)- She lit up the first 2 months of the season for Arkansas and then mysteriously disappeared. Her entering the transfer portal was a given. She committed to Auburn with three years left to play. Committed to Auburn.
Grace VanSlooten (Oregon)- 6'3 forward with no outside shot, so not someone Carolina would look at. She's an Ohio native and probably headed to Ohio State. Committed to Mich State.
Kaitlyn Chen (Princeton)- 5'9 senior guard- probably headed out west. Committed to UConn.
Janiah Barker (Texas A&M)- Staley nearly got a commitment from out of HS. She's somewhere between 6'2 and 6'4. She's not a great defensive player but averages 12 ppg on offensive throughout her career. She has two years left. Could be some interest here but the staff would have to remold her game to fit Dawn's style of play.
Hailey Van Lith (LSU)- left after Mulkey got her embarrassed against Caitlin Clark. HVL was playing out of position for LSU all season. She needs to be a SG and not a PG- minus defender for sure. Not a fit at SC. She's visited Miss State. I've also seen Kentucky is interested. Committed to TCU, or did she. HVL has now come out and said that she has not committed anywhere. Seems strange since multiple outlets reports that she had committed to TCU last week. She ended up committing to TCU after all.
Deja Kelly (UNC)- she was gassed in second round tourney game in Columbia and it showed as the Gamecocks ate her alive. The Texas native has one year remaining. Kelly isn't much of a 3-point shooter. Rumor is LSU- Mulkey not learning her lesson as she takes another non-PG that she is going to play at PG.
Charlisse Leger-Walker (Wash St)- torn ACL in January- she's probably taking a medical redshirt next season where ever she ends up. She's a PG and won't get a look from SC. Committed to UCLA- nice pick for the Bruins that are currently living in the shadow of their cross town rival.
Talia von Oelhoffen (Oreg St)- really nice versatile player with a year remaining. I think Dawn would like her- but there just isn't a spot in Columbia.
Maddie Scherr (Kentucky)- Not a take for Carolina. She's likely headed to Iowa or Indiana for his last season. Committed to TCU
There are others but lets get to some players that SC might be interested in:
Teonni Key (UNC)- her stats aren't impressive but if Walker moves on she might be a take for Carolina at 6'4. She was the #9 overall prospect in 2021 and heavily considered the Gamecocks. Committed to Kentucky
Lety Vasconcelos (Baylor)- She's 6'7 but didn't do much her first season at Baylor.
Hannah Gusters (Ok State)- 6'5 post averaged 14.3 ppg but only 4.1 rpg last season. She played one season at Baylor, LSU, and OK St. Doesn't have the best reputation so she is likely a pass. Committed to UCF.
Amari DeBerry (UConn)- 6'5 post was the #15 overall player in the stacked 2020 class. For whatever reason she could never get going at UConn. She only averaged 4.5 mins and 1 point this season. Committed to Maryland.
Kennedy Basham (Oregon)- 6'7 post. She's 6'7 and 6'7 doesn't grow on trees. She was the #59 player in the 22' class. Only averaged 4.5 ppg this season. Committed to Arizona State
Saylor Poffenbarger (Arkansas)- She's only 6'2 but she was one of the better rebounders in the SEC. Also averages 10.2 ppg. Originally at UConn she was the 30th rated player in the 21' class. Committed to Maryland.
LSU has seen two players from their highly rated 23' class transfer out in Angelica Velez and Janae Kent. Both are guards and didn't play much this season. LSU is going to continue to be thin with some very high-end talent. Kent committed to Texas A&M.
The portal remains open until May 1. Graduate transfers can enter at any time and players affected by a head coaching change after the May 1 deadline are also eligible to enter.
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