Nation’s No. 2 WBB recruit has commitment timeline in mind. Gamecocks get final visit
The recruitment for one of the country’s top girls basketball players is almost over.
Camden High School senior Joyce Edwards told The State on Thursday that she’s getting close to making a college decision and is likely to do it during the early signing period, which runs from Nov. 8-15. She hasn’t picked an exact date yet, but her announcement will likely happen in a ceremony at her high school.
“I was excited to get attention and the offers, and now it is crunch time,” Edwards said. “I am just looking for the school that kind of has everything — my major, good basketball program, good relationship with the coach. I feel like all the schools on my list have that.”
Edwards is a five-star recruit and was the S.C. Gatorade Player of Year last season, when she averaged 28.3 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.6 blocks in helping Camden to it first state title since 1982. She also went over 3,000 points for her career.
Edwards also got a chance to help Team USA to the gold medal at the 2023 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup. She was the youngest player on the roster and led the team in scoring at 12.6 points per game.
Edwards, the No. 2 ranked player by ESPN HoopGurlz rankings for the Class of 2024, has taken official visits to Clemson, Florida, LSU, Maryland, Stanford and Texas A&M. Her final official will come this weekend when she visits Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks. Division I recruits can take as many official visits as they want.
South Carolina gets final visit
South Carolina asked Edwards if they could have the last visit and she obliged. Staley offered Edwards, who plans on majoring in environmental engineering in college, when she was in the eighth grade and has been to numerous games to see her play.
Staley was at Camden a few weeks ago to see Edwards play in a volleyball match. The Bulldogs won their third-round match against Gilbert on Thursday and will play for Class 3A Lower State championship on Tuesday.
Staley and the Gamecocks have a good track record in keeping in-state talent. McDonald’s All-Americans MiLaysia Fulwiley, Talaysia Cooper and Ashlyn Watkins all have opted to stay home for their college careers. Cooper has since left the program, but Fulwiley and Watkins are expected to be key pieces for years to come.
“Dawn is a really good recruiter, so I am excited for this visit. I have known her for so long,” Edwards said. “They are right in my backyard. I love their program, love the girls and I played with almost all of them or against them. I feel like it is going to be a really good final visit. I can’t wait to experience it.
“Talent hasn’t left the state the last few years, so that speaks something about Coach Staley. They asked for the last visit. I guess there is more hype and more anticipation because it is the last visit.”
What about LSU and Clemson?
LSU and Clemson sent coaches to Camden on Tuesday for the Bulldogs’ playoff volleyball match. LSU head coach Kim Mulkey brought three of her assistants with her as the defending national champions look to sign Edwards.
Edwards took her visit to LSU last month. The Tigers also are in the mix for Grace Christian (NC) forward Sarah Strong, the No. 1 player in this year’s class.
Edwards and Strong will play against each other in the Chick-fil-A Classic at River Bluff High School on Dec. 27.
“Coach Mulkey’s message is that it is a winning program and she develops players and has won national championships and the players are still playing in the WNBA,” Edwards said.
Clemson also is right there as it looks to get its second five-star commitment for this year’s class. Imari Berry, a senior at Clarksville High School in Tennessee, committed to the Tigers in August. She is the No. 13 recruit in this year’s class.
The Tigers are pulling out all the stops and even had football coach Dabo Swinney talk to Edwards on her visit.
“Clemson has a great program. They are far enough away where I can have my own individuality but still close, which is nice,” Edwards said. “Coach (Amanda) Butler has been turning the program, bringing in top players. I love their coaching staff. I went there on a visit, and they already had an internship waiting for me. They are trying really hard.”
Edwards said she has enjoyed all of her visits. Her Stanford visit included meeting former U.S. Secretary of State Condolezza Rice, who is the current director of the Hoover Institution at the school.
“Stanford was really good. You can’t deny Stanford’s academics,” Edwards said.
Edwards has been relatively quiet on social media during the recruiting process, not posing pictures of her official visits like most high-level recruits do. She also credits her parents, Camden coach Natalie Norris and others for helping during the process.
“I haven’t been stressed out. My mom has taken a lot of the recruitment off my back. I don’t know what I would do without her,” Edwards said. “She is the one setting up the visits and calls. After every weekend, we sit down as a family and talk about pros and cons of each school to make things as easy as possible.
“... It has been a long process, but I feel like it is crunch time and I am excited to commit whenever I commit.”
