Dawn Staley’s first portal commitment one of best in country, ESPN says
South Carolina women’s basketball has one commitment so far from a transfer portal prospect, but ESPN considers her one of the best players in the portal.
Texas guard Jordan Lee announced her intentions to transfer to Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks on Friday.
Lee is the No. 2-ranked transfer in the country, according ESPN’s updated rankings released Monday. The 6-foot guard is behind only star forward Audi Crooks, who announced she’ll be playing for Oklahoma State on Sunday after starting her career with three years at Iowa State.
“Lee surprised many with her decision to leave the Longhorns,” ESPN’s Charlie Creme wrote. “The move is even more intriguing now that she has decided to join the Longhorns’ chief SEC rival in South Carolina. Lee was the best two-way player in the portal.”
Lee, a rising junior, is coming off the best year of her career after averaging a career-high 13.2 points per game this past season. Her 42.2% field goal percentage was also a career best. Lee saw her averages in rebounds (2.5), assists (2.5), steals (1.5) and blocks (0.5) per game all rise from her freshman to sophomore year.
She also is a great 3-point shooter and has a 36.2% clip from beyond the arc in her career. This past season she averaged 5.3 attempted 3s per game.
“She averaged 13.2 points, which included three double-figure scoring games against the Gamecocks,” Creme wrote. “Her work as a perimeter defender and her basketball IQ could make her a vital component for coach Dawn Staley’s pursuit of a fourth national championship.”
During her time as a Longhorn, Lee played against South Carolina seven times. Lee averaged 8.7 points in those matchups, but she scored at least 10 points in her last four games against USC, including a 19-point performance in a win over South Carolina in Las Vegas this past season.
So far, Lee is South Carolina’s only transfer portal commitment. Any player wishing to transfer must enter their name into the portal by Monday (April 20), but players can commit to a school after that deadline passes.
