Dawn Staley lauds South Carolina freshman Joyce Edwards after double-double debut

Joyce Edwards, the most highly anticipated South Carolina women’s basketball recruit since A’ja Wilson, made her garnet and black debut Tuesday night in the Gamecocks’ preseason exhibition at Memphis.

She posted a double-double in the first half and ended the game with a team-high 19 points (to go with 12 rebounds). USC won 106-63.

“The moment we inserted her into the game,” coach Dawn Staley said Wednesday at SEC Media Day in Birmingham, Alabama, “she imposed her will.”

Edwards committed to the Gamecocks in November as ESPN’s No. 2 rated recruit in the class of 2024 after a conversation with Wilson during USC’s 2023-24 home opener versus Maryland.

The two South Carolina natives talked basketball and Edwards’ potential to follow in the WNBA MVP’s footsteps. Staying home to play for Staley and becoming a star. Edwards publicly pledged to USC three days later.

Since then, the 6-foot-3 versatile forward has won five MVPs (AmeriCup MVP, McDonald’s All-American MVP, Nike Hoop Summit MVP, the Jordan Brand Classic MVP and U18 FIBA AmeriCup MVP), been named 2023-24 national Gatorade Player of the Year and attended the 2024 ESPY Awards.

All the trips and accolades initially made Edwards feel like she was falling behind in her transition to college and the speed, physicality and strength that comes with playing Division I ball. But Staley gave no indication Wednesday of that being a concern.

“Joyce played extremely well,” Staley said, reflecting on Edwards’ performance Tuesday night. “I mean, she played like she’s been practicing.”

Edwards was a little nervous, Staley conceded, with it being her first collegiate game and all. But after taking some time to watch the opening quarter unfold from the bench, Edwards came in and looked confident. Like she belonged there.

Staley continued to describe the jewel of her freshman class: “Super high intelligent, high competitor and just plays the right way. Very, very mature for her age.”