91茄子

With all but one player returning from last year鈥檚 undefeated national championship team, South Carolina women鈥檚 basketball will be even deeper this year thanks to an outstanding class of newcomers joining a proven and talent-rich team.

Redshirt freshman Adhel Tac enrolled last January while rehabbing from knee surgery and the 6鈥�5鈥� forward has at least experienced day to day life with the program. Joining Tac are freshmen guard Maddy McDaniel and forward Joyce Edwards, along with junior transfer forward Maryam Dauda from Arkansas. They鈥檙e all eager to do their part and know competition for playing time will be keen.

鈥淚 come in as a point guard,鈥� said McDaniel, a McDonald鈥檚 High School All-American from Maryland. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where I鈥檓 most comfortable. Playing behind (R.Jr./Second Team All-SEC) Raven (Johnson) and learning is going to be good. It鈥檚 been competitive, and it has been a challenge because I鈥檓 used to being the best player on my team. So, to come in here and be challenged, it鈥檚 been really fun. The team is so family oriented. They brought us in with open arms. I knew this was the place to be to be my best self.

鈥淚鈥檓 pass-first and fast paced at point guard. I鈥檓 playing with a lot of good players, so it鈥檚 about putting them in a good position.鈥�

鈥淲e all know they went 38-0 last year,鈥� said Edwards, who was the National High School Player of the Year from nearby Camden. 鈥淲e know that when we come to practice, we have to get down to business. We can鈥檛 be the reason why we lose. We鈥檙e ready to work. We want to be just like them. That鈥檚 another thing that drew me to South Carolina. It鈥檚 hard to scout South Carolina because anyone can go off at any time. Look at Tessa (Johnson) in the national championship and Lay (Fulwiley) in the SEC Tournament. These were freshman that made a key impact.鈥�

鈥淎t first I was a little nervous coming in,鈥� said Dauda, who averaged 10.1 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Razorbacks last year. 鈥淢y first practice, Coach Staley said she could see it in my face that I was nervous. She said it鈥檚 OK to be nervous. Everyone else came in and messed up a few times when they were new and going through the drills. You just have to keep going. Don鈥檛 stop playing. I felt like from that moment on, I was OK.

鈥淚 knew what I was signing up for coming in. I know how it is playing in the SEC. It鈥檚 going to be physical. Some nights, it鈥檚 not going to be my night. I shouldn鈥檛 let that bring my game down. I just have to fight and keep going. I will describe my game as versatile four player, or somewhat of a five. I can shoot the ball well from the three-point line and also stretch the floor out for the guards. Being able to shoot and creating a mismatch in the post is how I can help.鈥�

The freshmen come in with plenty of accolades, but they understand that they don鈥檛 have to be the 鈥渟tar鈥� right away.

鈥淧ressure is only something you put on yourself,鈥� Edwards said. 鈥淎t the end of the day, I鈥檓 honored to get all those awards, but high school is done. College is a fresh new start. I go out there to practice, and all of them are stars in their own way. I鈥檓 just here to compete and get better every day.鈥�

鈥淎t first, it鈥檚 not the easiest thing, but you have to think of the bigger picture,鈥� McDaniel said. 鈥淵ou have to play as a team and do what you have to do to win. I don鈥檛 want to put myself in a box and say I have to just sit back and learn, but if that鈥檚 what I have to do, I 鈥榤 willing to take that. I had a 鈥榳elcome to the SEC鈥� moment one day with (junior forward) Ashlyn (Watkins) last week. I was coming down the lane, and I didn鈥檛 think she was there, but she was there! The ball went far into the chairs by the door.鈥�

鈥淭heir system of playing is different from where I was at,鈥� added Dauda. 鈥淚鈥檓 learning the ropes of everything, but the girls and the coaches have helped me through that transition. It鈥檚 been very competitive! I feel like I鈥檓 working well with the team and trying to mesh with everybody else.鈥�

Edwards is no stranger to the Gamecocks, having attended camps as a youngster and even helping out on gamedays by being a floor mop attendant under the basket during games when a player hits the floor. She has also played against current teammate Ashlyn Watkins.

鈥淲e鈥檙e close,鈥� Edwards said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e competing. She is going to be stronger than me at this point, but I know it鈥檚 going to make me better.

鈥淚 went from mopping the floors and taking a picture with A鈥檍a Wilson after the game to actually having a conversation with her about South Carolina and my transition here. It鈥檚 a full-circle moment.鈥�

While she hasn鈥檛 played a game for the garnet and black yet, Edwards already has one unique distinction, as she will be the first player in the program to wear number 8 as the NCAA recently changed the rules allowing digits 6 through 9 on jerseys.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 have 12, so I wanted a new number that nobody had before,鈥� Edwards said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fresh start. I want to make it iconic. That鈥檚 the goal. I just want to see the growth in me within the game of college basketball.鈥�

When they鈥檙e away from the court, each has her own favorite pass time.

鈥淪leep!鈥� said McDaniel, who is somewhat soft-spoken. 鈥淏eing in a college, you definitely have to catch up on sleep! One day, you have workouts at night and then turn around and have practice at seven in the morning.鈥�

鈥淚 like shopping,鈥� said Dauda, who is studying economics. 鈥淪hopping and doing other little things like making TikToks. I鈥檓 planning on running my own business internationally. I want to have an apparel business because as a tall person we do not get much. We need more stuff for tall people. That鈥檚 what I鈥檓 planning on doing.鈥�

鈥淚 like to watch movies, hang with my family, go shopping occasionally,鈥� Edwards said. 鈥淚 like turning on Disney movies and going to sleep.鈥�

Check out more videos from their first meeting with the media.