With two commitments this week, the book is closing on South Carolina’s 2026 recruiting class. Let’s tie up all the different loose ends.
Wrapping up
South Carolina has signed three players: Kelsi Andrews, Alicia Tournebize, and Kaeli Wynn. It has a commitment from a fourth: Jerzy Robinson.
South Carolina even got a bonus with Tournebize, the 6-7 French forward who is enrolling early to play the rest of the season with the Gamecocks. ESPN calls her the gem of the recruiting class.
With Robinson’s commitment, there is just one remaining uncommitted top-100 player, guard Whitley Rogers of Arkansas (there’s an asterisk, so be patient). Most of the recruiting for this class is over.
How Robinson fits
Following Robinson’s commitment, ESPN broke down how she fits with the Gamecocks. She is described as the “most physical guard” in the class.”
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“She bullies her way to the rim and has enough handle to create her own shot, including from the perimeter. She rebounds well for a guard and doesn’t back down from any matchup.
Expect Robinson to contribute defensively and on the glass right away. The pressure she’ll put on the paint by driving and earning trips to the free throw line will help as well. Her style may remind Gamecock fans of Brea Beal.”
ESPN has not updated its team recruiting standings since Robinson and Tournebize committed.
The asterisk
International players are the big trend in this cycle, including Tournebize. They typically are not included in recruiting rankings, even one who is spending her senior year of high school in the United States: Spanish forward Sarah Okeke.
Okeke is the last remaining high-level recruit in the cycle. Because she didn’t transfer to the US until right before the school year began, she is just getting started with her recruitment process.
All the top programs are recruiting Okeke, including South Carolina. However, with four players already in the class, the numbers are not in the Gamecocks’ favor. Dawn Staley said she likes to have “12-13” players, and South Carolina already has 12 for next season before we even get to…
The transfer portal
Based on the position breakdown, South Carolina will need to add a transfer point guard, and not just a depth piece.
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Maddy McDaniel projects as the only point guard on the roster next season. In just one and a half seasons, McDaniel has already missed time with three different injuries. South Carolina needs to find someone capable of starting if McDaniel gets hurt again.
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Another point guard would get South Carolina to 13 players. That still gives the Gamecocks room for another transfer, because there is always a surprise All-American who enters the portal and wants to come compete for a national title.
A couple of 2027s have eliminated South Carolina
Guard Helen Ayers (ESPN #5, Rivals #3) and forward Eve Long (ESPN #8, Rivals #8) recently announced their lists of programs they are considering. Neither included South Carolina.
Time to start panicking because the Gamecocks can’t recruit.
Stray thought
After South Carolina confirmed that Tournebize had committed and would be joining the team immediately, fans of other teams complained on social media and message boards that South Carolina was somehow exploiting some brand-new loophole that nobody else could use.
Tournebize is one of at least four players (three international) who are enrolling midseason. Auburn had an international player, Yuting Deng, join last January. Notre Dame has had Cassandre Prosper and Olivia Miles. A comprehensive list would be far too long to make.
Furthermore, Tournebize is the fourth player Dawn Staley has had enroll midseason (Laeticia Amihere, Chloe Kitts, Adhel Tac) and third in the last four seasons.
Instead of complaining that South Carolina is doing it, maybe these people should be complaining that their team isn’t doing it.