Gamecock Legend Shaunzinski Gortman Takes Over White Knoll Girls Basketball Program
White Knoll High School just made a blockbuster coaching hire — and it’s a name that carries serious weight in South Carolina basketball history. The Timberwolves have landed Shaunzinski Gortman, a University of South Carolina Hall of Famer, to lead their girls basketball team. Her appointment was recently approved by the Lexington 1 school board.
Gortman steps in for Coretta Scott-Ferguson, who took the head coaching job at Irmo. Gortman brings a winning pedigree with her — she spent the past three seasons at Fairfield Central, guiding the Griffins to the playoffs every year and racking up over 30 wins during her tenure.
She now becomes the third former Gamecock player in just the last few months to accept a coaching position in the Midlands, joining Aaron Lucas at Ridge View (girls) and Larry Davis at Brookland-Cayce (boys).
A Keenan High School star, Gortman was one of the most highly sought-after recruits in the nation before committing to the Gamecocks over powerhouse programs like Tennessee and North Carolina. Her college résumé is packed with accolades: over 1,300 points, nearly 600 rebounds, and multiple All-SEC honors. In 2001-02, she helped lead USC to its first-ever Elite Eight appearance, capping off a 25-7 season.
Her legacy was cemented in 2023 when she was inducted into the USC Lettermen’s Hall of Fame. Reflecting on that honor, she told The State, “I think that was one of my proudest moments.”
After her college career, Gortman became the first-ever Gamecock drafted into the WNBA, selected ninth overall by the Charlotte Sting in 2002 before being traded to Minnesota. She played 77 games in the WNBA and spent several years competing internationally.
Now, Gortman takes over a White Knoll team that’s coming off a 17-9 season — their best in over a decade. While the Wolves are graduating their top two scorers, they return a strong core, setting the stage for Gortman to elevate the program even further.
Here’s a look at the recent coaching changes around Midlands high school basketball:
Boys Basketball
- Brookland-Cayce: Robert Wells → Larry Davis
- Gray Collegiate: Carlos Powell → Dion Bethea
- Lexington: Elliott Pope → Robert Wells
Girls Basketball
- Brookland-Cayce: Jamaal Brown → Terrence Gibson
- Chapin: Chad Boland → Terence Jones
- Irmo: Trina Wagstaff → Coretta Ferguson
- Lower Richland: Aaron Lucas → TBA
- Northside Christian: Jordan Leath → TBA
- Ridge View: Terrence Gibson → Aaron Lucas
- River Bluff: Candice Cobb → Jordan Leath
- Spring Valley: Megan Assey → Megan Davis
- White Knoll: Coretta Ferguson → Shaunzinski Gortman
With her rich experience and deep roots in South Carolina basketball, Gortman’s arrival at White Knoll could mark the beginning of a new era for the Timberwolves.
