Kelsi Andrews arrives on campus. What to know about Gamecocks WBB freshman

Kelsi Andrews moved into South Carolina’s campus on June 16 ahead of her freshman season with Dawn Staley and the Gamecock women’s basketball team. Her arrival in Columbia came one day after winning a gold medal with USA Basketball.

“Kelsi brings a unique combination of size, skill and versatility that perfectly fit how we want to play,” Staley said in a November press release. “Her basketball IQ, defensive presence and resilience make her a special addition to our Gamecock family. And, with her ability to score inside, stretch the floor with her 3-point shot and impact the game on both ends of the court, she has the potential to continue our legacy of elite front-court players.”

Here’s what to know about Andrews:

• The four-star forward from IMG Academy was the first Class of 2026 recruit to commit to Staley, announcing her pledge on social media after an official visit the weekend of Sept. 26. Andrews signed on Nov. 12.
• Andrews is ranked No. 30 in espnW’s Class of 2026 top 100. South Carolina beat schools like Ohio State, Duke, North Carolina, LSU and Notre Dame for Andrews’ talents.
• Andrews was initially the highest rated four-star in ESPN’s rankings but dropped a bit after suffering a torn meniscus in October.
• IMG head coach Frank Oliver Jr. said Andrews and South Carolina are a “perfect fit” and pointed to the program’s track record of developing post players like A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston.
• Oliver compared Andrews’ versatility to three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, praising her ability to shoot from NBA range, pass and defend at 6-foot-4.
• Andrews helped IMG Academy win a high school national championship in April 2025.
• Andrews helped the U.S. National Team beat Canada 90-72 to win the 2026 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup in Irapuato, Mexico, her third gold medal with USA Basketball..
• Andrews averaged 6.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game during the AmeriCup run and posted a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double in the semifinal win over Venezuela.
• ESPN’s Shane Laflin described Andrews as a “formidable post presence” who is a valuable addition to South Carolina’s program.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.