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Staley scores recruit upset
Nation’s No. 2 player in the country picks Gamecocks during All-American game
In this photo provided by McDonald's, East's Morgan Stroman, left, of Hopkins, S.C., blocks a shot attempt by West's Taber Spani, of Lee's Summit, Mo., during the first half of the McDonald's All-American girls basketball game Wednesday, April 1, 2009, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/McDonald's, Henny Ray Abrams) ** NO SALES **
Henny Ray Abrams /AP
Written by JOSEPH PERSON
jperson@thestate.com
Posted on 04.02.09
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Kelsey Bone File
POS.: Center
HT.: 6-foot-5
HIGH SCHOOL: John Foster Dulles, Sugarland, Texas
HONORS: 2009, Parade All-American, an All-State selection, an All-Region player and the District 20 5A Player of the Year; 2008, USA Basketball U18 team, Nike Regional Skills Academy; 2007, Texas offensive player of the year, Street & Smith All-American; 2006, USA Today freshman All-American
SCOUTING REPORT: Good work ethic. ... knows how to free herself in the post and seal off defenders. ... decisive drop-step, strong jump hook. ... at times, drifts away from the fundamentals.
Dawn Staley has landed her biggest recruit at USC — both in stature and acclaim.
Kelsey Bone, a 6-foot-5 post player rated as the nation’s No. 2 prospect by one recruiting site, picked the Gamecocks on Wednesday over Illinois and a pair of schools from her home state — Texas and Texas A&M.
Bone announced her choice courtside during the first half of the McDonald’s All-American game in Coral Gables, Fla., where she scored 10 points for the East squad.
Bone, the McDonald’s national girls player of the year who is from the Houston suburb of Sugar Land, is the most celebrated recruit to commit to the Gamecocks under Staley, and arguably, in program history.
“It’s a great opportunity for me and my family,” Bone said during ESPNU’s telecast of the game. “After talking to coach Staley and her staff, I just felt like Columbia was the best place for me.”
Bone led Dulles High to a 36-3 record by averaging 20.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game as a senior. She visited USC during the fall and can sign with the Gamecocks when the spring signing period begins April 15.
“It’s an upstart program and I’m looking forward to going there and play, and hopefully get the fans of Columbia involved,” Bone said. “I know it’s a long way from home, but South Carolina seems like a family-oriented program.”
Bone is No. 2 on ESPNU/HoopGurlz’s list of the top 100 prospects. Baylor-bound Brittney Griner, a 6-7 post player from Texas whose dunks have made national highlight shows, is No. 1.
Bone’s choice of the Gamecocks, who finished 10-18 with a 2-12 SEC mark in Staley’s first season, was viewed as a seismic shift by at least one women’s basketball expert.
“Has there been an eclipse of the sun? Did we just have an earthquake? It’s gigantic. It’s monumental. Did the earth plates shift? I’m telling you, it’s huge,” ESPN analyst Debbie Antonelli said. “This is exactly what Eric Hyman wanted when he hired Dawn, was for her to change the recruiting landscape. With Kelsey Bones, she has done that. This is a kid who is a program-changer.”
USC has not made the NCAA tournament since 2003, while Texas received its 23rd NCAA bid this season, tied for third-most.
But Bone said she liked the direction of USC’s program under Staley.
“I know no one expected me to do this, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles,” she said.
Antonelli said the addition of Bone makes the Gamecocks immediate contenders in the SEC.
“Instantly, South Carolina is on the map because to get a player of her skill level and her talent, and Dawn picks up a couple of players around her, they are right in the mix,” Antonelli said. “I’m talking about the mix of the SEC right now, which puts you on the national map.”
North Carolina-bound Tierra Ruffin-Pratt scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to earn co-MVP honors as she led the West over the East, 69-68 in the girls game. Playing on what will be her home court in college, Lower Richland’s Morgan Stroman had three points, three rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals.
Staff writer Ron Morris and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.
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