The South Carolina Gamecocks football program is riding a wave of celebration after seeing a significant number of players selected in the NFL Draft — and they aren’t the only ones excited. Women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley is right there with them, joining in the festivities. She took a moment to spotlight one player in particular: Nick Emmanwori.
On April 25, Staley posted on X (formerly Twitter), replying to a message from Raven Johnson and Emmanwori, enthusiastically writing: “Yeah yeah yeah NICK!!! @Eman7Nick Let ‘em know and go HAWKS!”
According to Greenville Online, Raven Johnson, a standout guard for the Gamecocks women’s basketball team, was sitting beside Emmanwori when he received the life-changing news: he had been drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 35 overall pick.
Johnson took to Instagram to celebrate, sharing a heartfelt photo with Emmanwori and captioning it: “Seattle got a good one!”
In response, Emmanwori commented: “Yo turn next year.”
Adding to the buzz, fellow Gamecock Chloe Kitts chimed in with a playful comment: “Look who finally popped out.”
The exchange quickly ignited speculation among fans, with many wondering if Johnson and Emmanwori were publicly confirming a relationship.
One fan commented: “Am I outta the loop, or is this the hard launch?”
Another wrote: “About damn time brothaaaa 🤣!! iktr happy for y’all ❤️!”
And yet another added: “Ohhh it’s like that?! SAY LESS!! 🔥 LOVE IT!”
Meanwhile, several Gamecocks football players had their own dreams come true in the NFL Draft:
- Tonka Hemingway was selected No. 135 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.
- Kyle Kennard went No. 125 overall to the Los Angeles Chargers.
- Demetrius Knight Jr. was taken No. 49 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals.
- T.J. Sanders was chosen No. 41 overall by the Buffalo Bills.
- And, of course, Nick Emmanwori was picked No. 35 overall by the Seattle Seahawks.
With the Gamecocks’ success spilling into both football and basketball, and a little off-court romance possibly blooming, it’s safe to say it’s an exciting time in Columbia.
