Joyce Edwards. Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Hoops Summit standout may aid South Carolina's repeat bid

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 4/13/24

With head coach Dawn Staley in tow and a legacy of success growing at South Carolina, drawing interest from the country's best players isn't an issue for the program. However, what the reigning NCAA champions do have is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to talent, and the standout of this year's Nike Hoop Summit, Joyce Edwards, proved why.

On Saturday in Portland, Oregon, the South Carolina commit helped Team USA defeat Team World. With the U.S. trailing by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter, Edwards paced a 16-0 run late en route to an 83-80 win. The six-foot-two forward recorded a team-high 25 points with nine rebounds, five steals and two assists.

.@GamecockWBB commit Joyce Edwards with the tough finish @FOXSports | Watch live on @FS1 pic.twitter.com/OCUv9xIIl8
— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) April 14, 2024

A five-star recruit from Camden High School in South Carolina, Edwards earned the state's Gatorade National Player of the Year honor and was recently named co-MVP of the 2024 McDonald's All-American Game with UConn commit Sarah Strong.

Viewed by many as the second-best girls' player in the nation behind Strong, Edwards unsurprisingly fielded offers from several schools, including Clemson and LSU. However, she ultimately decided to be a Gamecock, signing her letter of intent last November.

Staley, who'd recruited Edwards since she was in eighth grade, played a massive role in her decision.

"I knew she was going to take care of me on the court, but also off the court. I feel like it's going to be a whole great experience," Edwards told Sam Shapiro of WIS10. "I feel like she's going to coach me and [help] grow my game throughout [the] next four years, [and] I'm excited for the challenge."

Edwards isn't the only talent joining the Gamecocks in 2024. The program's recruiting class also includes point guard Maddy McDaniel and forward Adhel Tac, who ESPN ranked No. 12 and No. 26 in the nation, respectively.

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