Final Projection of South Carolina’s Rotation
The latest projection of South Carolina’s women’s basketball rotation reflects another major roster adjustment after Maddy McDaniel’s departure. The Gamecocks replaced her with fifth-year Michigan transfer Brooke Quarles Daniels, but the addition may not be a straightforward one-for-one replacement because Michigan distributed point-guard responsibilities across several players.
The projection argues that South Carolina will likely continue leaning heavily into “positionless basketball”, using players’ versatility rather than rigid positional roles. With no traditional point guard, the Gamecocks could prioritize having at least two reliable ballhandlers on the floor at all times.
Projected Starting Five
- PG: Tessa Johnson — Senior, 6-0
- G: Jordan Lee — Junior, 6-0
- Wing: Agot Makeer — Sophomore, 6-2
- F: Chloe Kitts — Redshirt Senior, 6-3
- Post: Joyce Edwards — Junior, 6-3
The projected starters are described as South Carolina’s five most talented and experienced players, with the lineup offering a strong balance of size, skill and versatility.
However, there is an alternative possibility. Dawn Staley has historically enjoyed having a major impact player coming off the bench, so she could start Ashlyn Watkins instead of Kitts for additional defense and size, or use Jerzy Robinson instead of Lee.
Second Unit: Defense First
The projected second group features:
- PG: Brooke Quarles Daniels
- G: Agot Makeer
- Wing: Jordan Lee
- F: Joyce Edwards
- Post: Ashlyn Watkins
This unit could become one of the team’s biggest strengths defensively. Daniels, Makeer, Lee and Watkins are all regarded as elite defenders, while Edwards provides offensive versatility and can serve as the focal point of the unit.
The philosophy is different from the traditional idea of using the second unit primarily for scoring: this group is projected to overwhelm opponents defensively and make possessions difficult.
Third Unit: Developing the Young Players
The projected third group is:
- PG: Jerzy Robinson — Freshman, 6-2
- G: Tessa Johnson — Senior, 6-0
- Wing: Chloe Kitts — R-Senior, 6-3
- F: Oliviyah Edwards — Freshman, 6-3
- Post: Alicia Tournebize — Sophomore, 6-7
Here, positional labels become less important. The goal is to give younger players meaningful experience while surrounding them with veterans.
Robinson would get an opportunity to handle the ball and learn to run the team, while Johnson and Kitts would provide a safety net. The projection also favors a large lineup, believing its size could create mismatches while protecting a relatively inexperienced group.
Daniels Could Have a Situational Role
Interestingly, the projection doesn’t expect Daniels to necessarily receive heavy minutes every night. Instead, her playing time could depend on the opponent.
Her defensive ability could become especially valuable against elite perimeter threats. The article specifically suggests she could see additional action against players such as Hannah Hidalgo or Mikayla Blakes, where a strong perimeter defender would be particularly useful.
Other Players Still in the Mix
The projection emphasizes that the rotation is far from settled. Adhel Tac, if healthy, could challenge for minutes because she is the team’s only traditional big.
Meanwhile, Ayla McDowell, Kaeli Wynn and Justine Loubens offer another potential solution because of their shooting ability and capacity to spread the floor.
The projected reserve group includes Robinson, Lee, Daniels, McDowell, Wynn, Loubens, Oliviyah Edwards, Tournebize, Tac and Kelsi Andrews.
Garbage-Time Development
During blowouts, the priority would shift toward development. Early in the season, Lee and Daniels could receive extra opportunities to handle point-guard duties, while Robinson would increasingly be given the chance to gain experience as the season progresses.
There is also a health question surrounding Wynn, who is returning from a significant injury and had not received a recent public health update at the time of the projection.
Bottom Line
The projected rotation highlights South Carolina’s depth, defensive versatility and positional flexibility. Rather than relying on a conventional point guard, the Gamecocks could distribute playmaking duties among several players while using their size and defensive talent to create matchup problems.
The biggest variables are how quickly Daniels adapts, Robinson’s development, Tac’s health and Wynn’s availability. Ultimately, the roster appears deep enough that Staley will have multiple ways to construct lineups depending on the opponent and game situation.
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