Dawn Staley has never been content to simply maintain what she has built at South Carolina — she is always building toward what comes next. Her latest move in that direction is the addition of five-star guard Jerzy Robinson, who will join the Gamecocks ahead of the 2026-27 season and brings with her a résumé that suggests she is no ordinary freshman.
Robinson is the No. 5-ranked player in the girls’ SportsCenter NEXT 100 class of 2026 , and her arrival in Columbia is the product of one of the most watched recruitment sagas of the year. Her recruitment originally centered on LSU and South Carolina heading into the early signing period, with UConn also making a strong push. Robinson took trips to LSU, UConn, and South Carolina in October. In the end, the Gamecocks won out — and Robinson’s reasoning was both personal and telling.
Robinson’s commitment reflects not just a program choice but a profound alignment of values and vision. At the McDonald’s All-American Game, she sat down with SportsCenter and held nothing back about why Staley sealed the deal.
“I think Dawn Staley’s a dog,” Robinson said. “She did it as a coach. She did it as a player. And you know, she told me she was gonna add to me and not take away. She believed in me and my goal, and she told me she was gonna get me there. So, I’m ready to play for Dawn.”
That language — “add to me, not take away” — speaks to something deeper than just basketball fit. Robinson said her choice came down to comfort and clarity, describing South Carolina as “home” and “peace.” For a player of her caliber who had blue-blood programs lining up for her signature, that kind of emotional certainty is significant. It also reflects the culture Staley has built — one that attracts elite talent not purely on trophies, but on trust.
Robinson’s physical profile and track record make her someone who should contribute immediately. She averaged 22.0 points and 8.2 rebounds as a freshman at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, shooting 62 percent while leading her team to an Arizona Open Division state title. Internationally, she earned MVP honors at the 2023 FIBA U16 Americas and the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup, becoming the youngest U16 MVP ever at age 14. She also set a Team USA single-game rebounding record with 21 rebounds and owns two gold medals from youth national team competition.
She began her high school career at Desert Vista in Phoenix before transferring to Sierra Canyon High School in California in 2023. Her path has been one of consistent elevation — and she appears to know exactly what she wants to become at the next level.
Speaking ahead of the McDonald’s All-American Game, Robinson outlined the role she envisions for herself in Columbia.
“I think for me, it’s versatility,” Robinson said. “Just coming in and being able to do anything, you know, contribute in different ways other than what we all know and left to do, which is scoring. I think leadership is gonna be a big role for me as well. So, just coming in and being a sponge, but also being myself when I step in there.”
That balance of humility and self-awareness is precisely the kind of mindset Staley values. Robinson isn’t arriving thinking she is the finished product — she is arriving ready to learn, while also understanding she has something unique to offer. For a South Carolina program that is set to lose several key contributors, that mentality could prove crucial in keeping the team’s standard intact.
The timing of Robinson’s arrival also matters enormously. Staley will be without Ta’Niya Latson, Raven Johnson, Maryam Dauda, and Madina Okot next season — a significant wave of departures that opens the door for freshmen to step into meaningful roles quickly. Robinson won’t be easing into college basketball; she will be pushed into it.
And she is doing so against the backdrop of a program that continues to demand the highest standard. South Carolina defeated the TCU Horned Frogs 78-52 to punch their ticket to the Final Four — their sixth consecutive appearance — where they will face UConn in a highly anticipated rematch. Staley acknowledged the weight of the journey her team has been on.
“This team has been through so much together, and they know what it takes to win at the highest level. I’m so proud of their effort and determination to get back to the Final Four,” Staley said.
That Final Four matchup with UConn carries extra significance. Last season, the Huskies ended South Carolina’s bid for back-to-back national championships. Now, with Robinson watching from the wings and a fresh wave of elite talent on the horizon, Staley and the Gamecocks get their shot at redemption — with the Final Four clash scheduled for Friday at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix at 7 p.m. ET.
For Robinson, all of this is both inspiration and instruction. She is walking into a program that has built its identity on responding to adversity, and she has made clear she is ready to be part of that response — not someday, but now.
