How did top-10 recruit know Gamecocks were the right choice? ‘I felt it in my heart’
What should South Carolina women’s basketball fans know about Sania Feagin, the latest commitment in the Gamecocks’ 2021 recruiting class?
Off the court, “I’m humble and shy,” she says.
On it, it’s a different story.
“I’m very versatile, I’m very tall, I can dribble, I’m kind of fast. I’m really a defensive player — I like to block shots and get rebounds,” Feagin told The State.
When it comes to shot-blocking and rebounding, Feagin, standing 6-foot-4 and ranked No. 6 in the country by ESPN, is indeed no slouch. En route to earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors for the state of Georgia this past season, she averaged 10.4 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game.
And after committing to coach Dawn Staley’s program this past weekend, Feagin will be joining a program already stocked with talent — led by national freshman of the year Aliyah Boston, South Carolina set program records for both blocks and rebounds per game this past season.
Unlike Boston, however, Feagin isn’t a true low post. In speaking with Staley about what position she’ll play in college, Feagin says the coaching staff wants her to “be a four, transitioning to a three, because of my handles and my versatility.”
Talent evaluators have raved about Feagin’s instincts and athleticism, especially her leaping ability. In that regard, the Ellenwood, Georgia native bears some similarities to current Gamecock forward Victaria Saxton, also a Georgia native. And the two share another common link — Saxton’s aunt was Feagin’s old middle school coach.
Beyond that, Feagin said she didn’t know Saxton too well. But she does know and is in contact with the two other publicly known members of South Carolina’s 2021 class — guards Saniya Rivers and Bree Hall.
“I know Bree and Saniya, we’re just talking about how we’re going to come in, rooming and stuff like that,” Feagin said.
Feagin’s decision to join USC’s 2021 recruiting class, the only one in the country thus far to have three players ranked in ESPN’s top 30, came down to a few simple factors, she said.
“Coach Dawn,” Feagin said. “I felt it in my heart.”
Primarily recruited by associate head coach Lisa Boyer since the ninth or 10th grade, Feagin said she was able to discuss more than just basketball with the coaching staff. But there wasn’t any particular topic or conversation that stuck out in her mind when it came time to make a choice.
“It’s just something I felt in my heart,” she said.
And while official and unofficial visits have been prohibited for months now and won’t be coming back until at least Aug. 1 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Feagin had taken multiple visits to South Carolina in the past, she said. Witnessing the atmosphere at games left an impression.
“I loved it; it was a lot of fans there,” she said.
