Dawn Staley lands grad transfer from Penn State

Dawn Staley said she was looking for help, either immediately or in the future, after unexpectedly losing Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray to the WNBA.

Lindsey Spann qualifies as “immediate.”

Spann, a graduate transfer point guard from Penn State, has committed to the defending national champions and is finalizing her move to Columbia. She confirmed her decision to The State on Monday and will be eligible right away.

“I definitely felt like good relationships with the coaching staff and the opportunity to compete and play at a high level was something important to me,” Spann said. “I decided (Sunday).”

Spann grew up in Laurel, Md., but is very familiar with South Carolina. Much of her family is spread around the state (Columbia, Orangeburg, Dillon) and her parents, Patricia and Samuel Spann, each graduated from USC.

Spann chose the Gamecocks over Baylor and NC State. She was the Lady Lions’ second-leading scorer (10.5 points) and averaged 2.8 rebounds with 50 assists and 28 steals.

“She’s a 5-foot-7 true combo guard. She can play the point and the two,” said her AAU coach, Robert Hildreth. “She’s a great 3-point shooter, drives to the bucket, creates for everyone. She has eyes behind her head and can get past anyone.”

The Gamecocks seem to be entrenched at starting point guard as sophomore Ty Harris took over the role last season, guided USC to a championship and is spending this summer playing for Team USA’s under-19 World Cup squad. But the Gamecocks need depth behind Harris and senior Bianca Cuevas-Moore, and Spann can direct traffic or be a shooter on the wings, like Gray and Davis were.

USC has two scholarships to give for next season.

This story was originally published May 29, 2017 at 10:44 AM with the headline "Dawn Staley lands grad transfer from Penn State."