USC recruiting target drops 54 points with Dawn Staley, Gamecocks team looking on
Milaysia Fulwiley went for a triple-double on Friday night against Indian Land.
On Saturday in front a large crowd that included South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and the top-ranked Gamecock women’s basketball team, the Keenan freshman outdid herself.
Fulwiley went for a career-high 54 points in the win over Wilson, the No. 7 team in 4A, at the Crescent Construction MLK Bash at Eau Claire High School.
“They couldn’t guard me,” Fulwiley said with a smile. “It was pretty cool. I knew I was going up against Loyal McQueen so I had to play good defense and offense.”
The 54 points are the most scored by a girl or boy in the fifth year of the event. Fulwiley’s previous career-high was 35 points against Indian Land last season.
“That is why they call her a phenom,” Keenan coach Reggie McLain said. “She comes to practice every day. She works hard, puts the time in, works hard in offseason and does all the things she needs to do to get better.
“This was one of her better performances. Playing in front of a big crowd and against a good guard in Loyal McQueen, she put on a show.”
Both Fulwiley and McQueen, the Wilson guard and Georgia Tech signee, gave the crowd plenty of amazing moments. McQueen finished with 42 points including several deep 3-pointers.
Fulwiley showed her range, hitting 5 of 8 from 3-point range. But it is Fulwiley’s ballhandling and her playmaking ability that put the crowd in a frenzy.
On a few occasions, Fulwiley put the ball behind her back and slashed to the hoop for layups.
With Keenan second-leading scorer Dyani Burke sidelined for the rest of the year with an ACL injury, Fulwiley has taken the Raiders’ scoring load on her shoulders. She has scored 30 or more points in four of her past five games.
“No one cares if you are a freshman or not on the court. You have to go out and give it your all,” Fulwiley said. “I knew I had the weight on my shoulders and knew I had to get the ball. And make smart decisions.”
Fulwiley is no stranger to big moments even though she is just a freshman. She was pulled up to the varsity squad in her seventh grade year and played in two state championship games already. The Raiders won it all in 2018.
Fulwiley is ranked as one of the top players in Class of 2023 by ESPN HoopGurlz. She has offers from South Carolina, Clemson, Mississippi and just picked up one from Georgia.
Fulwiley has been to three Gamecocks games this season.
But the attention around her will only increase as well as the interest from big Division I programs. Fulwiley and Cardinal Newman sophomore Ashlyn Watkins were two of the main attractions for Saturday’s event.
Watkins, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Spring Valley, holds a USC offer and has drawn interest from Baylor, Louisville and Clemson among others. Both Watkins, ranked No. 12 for Class of 2022 by ESPN, and Fulwiley are teammates in AAU with SC76ers.
“I like how skillful she is,” Watkins said of Fulwiley. “She can do a lot at her age.”
Westwood knocks off No, 1 North Augusta
Westwood coach Gregory Bauldrick called it the signature win for his program and it would be hard to argue.
The Redhawks, ranked No. 4 in 4A, held on to beat three-time defending champion and top-ranked North Augusta, 61-59, in the final game Saturday.
It was NA’s first loss to a team from South Carolina since the 2015-16 season.
“Tonight was our night and we are really really excited about it,” Bauldrick said. “Our effort and willingness to not give up and quit. Bottom line is we didn’t know what the outcome would be but we were going to die trying.”
The game was close throughout and came down to the final play. After a Westwood turnover, North Augusta had the ball under its own baseline with 2.7 seconds left. But the Redhawks knocked away the inbound pass to seal the win.
J’Mari Frederick led Westwood with 18 points. Kentucky signee Nyah Leveretter had 13 points and 15 rebounds. Freshman Jessica Woods added 13 including a key layup late in the game.
J’Mani Ingram led the Yellow Jackets with 28.
MLK Bash Results
Dreher 45, Sumter 44
S: Kiara Croskey 10, Tamerah Brown 19, Edlow 3, Cox 6, Colclough 4, Conyers 2. D: Imani Williams 14, Kourtney English 18, Amber Burton 11, Raiford 2.
South Pointe 41, Lower Richland 34
SP: Trinity Adams 10, Randi Neal 14, Jamia Blake 13, Lane 2, White 2. LR: Tillman 2, Jackson 4, Floyd 8,, Anala Nelson 12, Kelley 2, Weston 6.
Orangeburg-Wilkinson 47, Ridge View 41
OW: Shar’dasia Ziegler 15, Darby 4, D’maya Tucker 16, Graves 4, Davis 2, Gaillard 4, Green 2. RV: Keller 6, Mitchem 5, Middleton 3, Laila Acox 13, Jackson 4, Ariyanna Daney 10.
Cardinal Newman 59, Spring Valley 37
CN: Audrey Meyers 18, Tanaja Kennedy 16, Ashlyn Watkins 15, Dayhuff 2, Green 2, Hogan 2, Wright 2, Slattery 2. SV: Ariana Wilkes 16, Lauryn Taylor 15, Liebert 3, Lance 2, McNally 1
Keenan 92, Wilson 77
W: Loyal McQueen 42, Hayes 8, Rogers 2, J..Washington 6, Kayla Washington 11, Johnson 4, Cameron 3. K: Woods 2, A. Lewis7, T. Lewis 2, Milaysia Fulwiley 54, Jailyn Oree 54, Dukes 8, Johnson 2.
Westwood 61, North Augusta 59
NA: Tyliah Burnes 12, J’mani Ingram 28, P’eris Smith 14, Lee 5. W: Jessica Woods 14, Etheredge 6, Scott 3, Nyah Leverretter 13, J’mani Frederick 18, McCant 5,Wade 2.
Monday’s Schedule
Boys
Lee Central vs. AC Flora, 10:30 a.m.
North Augusta vs. Wilson, noon
Marion vs. Lower Richland, 1:30 p.m.
Lakewood vs. Blythewood, 3 p.m.
Cardinal Newman vs. Keenan, 4:30 p.m.
Ridge View vs. Gray Collegiate, 6 p.m.
Tickets: $9
This story was originally published January 18, 2020 at 8:24 PM.
