South Carolina’s Dawn Staley watches signee Joyce Edwards in state title game
Joyce Edwards played her final high school game on Saturday. Her future college coach was on hand for it.
South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley arrived moments before tip-off of Camden’s Class 3A girls championship game against Wren on Saturday at the Florence Center. Assistant coach Jolette Law also was with Staley.
It was the third straight year Edwards and Camden were playing for a state championship. The Bulldogs lost to Keenan in 2021 and defeated Wren last year.
Edwards finished with 27 points and 20 rebounds in Camden’s 44-22 win. After the game. she posed for pictures and talked with Staley and Law.
“II’m going to see coach Staley a whole bunch next year,” Edwards said. “But I am glad they came out and supported me today.”
Edwards is the top prospect in Gamecocks’ Class of 2024. She is the No. 2 prospect in latest ESPN HoopGurlz rankings behind Sarah Strong, another USC target.
The 6-foot-2 Edwards has had one of the most prolific careers in state history. She entered Saturday’s game with 3,937 points, the second most in state history.
Edwards will play next month in three prestigious events — the McDonald’s All-American game, NIKE Hoops Summit and Jordan Brand Classic.
Edwards wasn’t the only future Gamecock playing for a title on Saturday. Powdersville junior Hayden Assemian, a commit for USC men’s team, was in the 3A boys championship. Gamecock assistant coach Tanner Bronson was in attendance just hours after USC defeated Florida.
Assenian had 12 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in Powdersville’s 53-47 win over Darlington. It was the first state championship in program history.
“They showed love before the game. They won and we won. It’s South Carolina on top,” Assemian said.
This story was originally published March 2, 2024 at 3:12 PM.
