Charlie Creme from ESPN made an update to his Women’s College Basketball Way-Too-Early-Top 25 for 2023-2024. Say what you will about Charlie Creme, and I say alot, normally his predictions for the actual tournmaent is spot on. But this one, I’m tripping a bit.
I’m starting with the Gamecocks at number 8. We lost seven players and of those seven, five were drafted into the WNBA. We lost Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, and Laeticia Amihere in the first round. Brea Beal in the second round and Victaria Saxton in the third round. How do you replace those players, in South Carolina’s case, you reload.
First is Aliyah Boston. We can’t replace the 6-foot 5 post player, Naismith Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and number one pick. But you have a player in Kamilla Cordoso who at 6 foot 7 will fill up the stat sheet as well as the paint. Cordoso was ranked the number one center and fifth overall player in the class of 2020. This past season, she averaged 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists in 19 minutes of play. Those numbers will jump dramatically with starters minutes. She will be in the 1st Team All-SEC and All-American conversation on day one.
Next is Zia Cooke and her 15 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists while shooting 41% from the field, 37% from three and 79% from the free throw line. The addition of Oregon transfer Te-Hina Paopao fills that lost. Te-Hina is the same size at 5 foot 9. She was the number 11 overall recruit in the 2020 class, McDonald’s All-American and Gatorade Player of the Year. She is a two-time All-PAC 12 first team selection. She averaged two points less, 2 more rebounds, and 1 more assist while also shooting better from the field, elite from three and better from the free throw line.
Next is Brea Beal started all four years for Carolina. Excellent defender, getting All-SEC this year and Finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. She averaged 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists per game while shooting 42% from the field, 38% from three, and 58% from the free throw line. Enters Bree Hall. Bree was ranked as the 11th overall player in the class of 2021. This past season she averaged 5 points and 2 rebounds in 14 minutes of play. This numbers will jump dramatically with starters minutes. She isn’t the defensive presence that Brea was, but she is a better offensive player. As far as Laeticia Amihere, who did a little bit of everything for the Gamecocks from point guard to power forward, she averaged 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist in 16 minutes per game. Victaria Saxton averaged 5 points, 3 rebounds in 16 minutes per game. You don’t think Sania Feagin who was the number 4 overall player in the class of 2021 will get those numbers and more? You don’t think Ashlynn Watkins, who was the number 12 player overall in the 2022 will get those numbers? You don’t think Chloe Kitts who was the 17th overall players in the 2023 class will get those numbers?
There is a reason Dawn Staley isn’t using the transfer portal like a slot machine, there is an abundance of talent that has been waiting for their chance. No disrespect to Charlie Creme but that wasn’t considered in your poll. We have top 5 talent on this roster already, if we get Aneesah Morrow who is visiting South Carolina this weekend, we have top 3. Just because you haven’t heard of these players because you don’t do a deep dive is your fault but to Gamecock fans, we are all sitting back looking and laughing. Ya’ll must have forgot what we have in Columbia. The road still runs through Columbia. Don’t forget that.
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