How Dawn Staley, No. 1 USC are looking for consistency from sophomore Sania Feagin
South Carolina sophomore forward Sania Feagin received high praise from head coach Dawn Staley after the team’s Dec. 11 win against Liberty.
“She’s super talented, like, super,” Staley said then. “She’s probably the most talented post player that we have. And that’s Aliyah (Boston) included.”
Feagin displayed some of that talent again in her productive SEC opener on Thursday, recording 11 points and six rebounds while coming up with two big blocks in the No. 1 Gamecocks’ 76-34 win over Texas A&M at Colonial Life Arena.
While her role has increased from her freshman year, Feagin’s spot in the rotation continues to change by the game.
She was a starter in the exhibition against Benedict and recorded a double-double. She didn’t play (coach’s decision) against Cal Poly and Charleston Southern. In the six games in which she’s played at least 11 minutes, she’s scored in double-digits five times.
Now, Staley wants Feagin to put it all together.
“She’s gotta play better defense,” Staley said after Thursday’s game. “The offense is coming along nicely. But, I mean, you can’t trade baskets. At some point, she’s got to get stops. She’s got to be able to defend. That’s the only thing that’s really holding her back. And she’s getting there. She’s aware of it.”
Staley said that Boston became the National Player of the Year due to her work ethic and high IQ, and thinks that Feagin’s abilities can make her great, too.
Feagin has come to Staley at times this season to inquire about ways to stay more consistent.
“The conversations me and coach have been having have been more of me asking, ‘What can I do to help better my game?’ ” Feagin said. “ ‘What can I do in practice and behind closed doors? What can I do to better myself as a player and as a team player?’ ”
The 6-foot-3 sophomore from Ellenwood, Georgia, was the top-ranked forward coming from Forest Park High School and the No. 4 player overall in ESPN’s Class of 2021 rankings. She played 4.3 minutes per game in 31 appearances last year.
But over the summer, Feagin took the time to enhance her skillset and caught the attention of her coaches and teammates.
“She’s been in the gym,” senior guard Zia Cooke said.
Feagin has scored at least 11 points in four of her last five games. Her season-high point total is the 15 she scored in the season opener against East Tennessee State. She’s currently averaging 7.8 points and 3.7 rebounds.
She believes that her game has elevated from her freshman season to now on both ends of the court.
“I feel like I’m more dominant, attacking more,” Feagin said. “Defensive-wise, I feel like if you come in the paint, I’m there to block it.”
South Carolina’s post rotation is a bit cluttered with playmakers. Boston and Victaria Saxton — with a combined 256 games between them — have started in every game. Junior center Kamilla Cardoso is experiencing a breakout season of her own.
Senior forward Laeticia Amihere comes off the bench but serves as the team’s fourth-leading scorer, and even freshman forward Ashlyn Watkins has shown flashes of productivity.
Staley said after the Liberty game that Feagin “doesn’t like me very much all the time,” but that she continues to invest in her because she believes in her potential. Feagin’s recent games have shown what she can do on the offensive side, and she’s blocked five shots in her last two contests.
“She’s gotta connect practices, she gotta connect games,” Staley said. “Once she’s got it, then it’s no further discussion. You know what it takes, but every now and then, she needs reminders. When you don’t have to remind her as much, she’s good. But I still have to remind her, or she reminds me what she was supposed to do. So she’s right where she needs to be.”
Feagin’s role in the team’s SEC season debut could mark the start of her turning a corner, but time will tell. For now, she’ll continue to carve out her role among the team’s assortment of bigs.
“When she plays, she’s earned it,” Staley said. “It won’t be a gimme.”
NEXT FOUR SOUTH CAROLINA WBB GAMES
Monday: at Georgia, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
Thursday: home vs. Auburn, 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
Jan. 8: at Mississippi State, 1 p.m. (SEC Network or ESPN2)
Jan. 12: at Kentucky, 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
