Dawn Staley and South Carolina Target Rising Stars During Packed July Recruiting Trail
July is one of the busiest months of the year for women’s basketball recruiting—and Dawn Staley and her South Carolina staff are right in the thick of it. With two crucial evaluation periods, also known as “live” periods, coaches are logging major miles across the U.S. (and even Europe) to scout top talent.
This year, the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in Brno, Czechia also drew NCAA coaches overseas, giving them a chance to assess international prospects on a global stage.
(And yes, for those wondering: a social media critic recently told Staley to “stay home and coach,” but let’s set the record straight—these trips aren’t vacations. Staley, like every other elite coach, is grinding the recruiting circuit. Rant over.)
With eyes on the next wave of stars, the Gamecocks extended at least three new offers this week—a sign that Staley’s staff is identifying rising prospects with high upside. (As always, this list may not be exhaustive, as many offers come to light only when players announce them.)
🔥 Lola Lampley (2026)
6’2 Guard | Indianapolis, IN
Lampley is a late-rising prospect whose game is quickly gaining traction this summer. Although it’s unusual for a 2026 player to pick up new offers at this stage, Lampley’s growing list of suitors speaks volumes.
Back in February, she revealed a top five of Duke, Mississippi State, Florida State, NC State, and UCLA, but she’s since reopened her recruitment after more offers rolled in. She’s already visited Florida State and Mississippi State, and has upcoming trips planned to LSU and Ole Miss. Her sister, Jaylah Lampley, just started her freshman season at Mississippi State.
Ranked No. 17 in the On3 Industry Rankings and No. 20 by ESPN, Lampley is a versatile player who likely projects more as a forward than a guard. She brings solid rebounding, polished passing, and a steady all-around game—most effective when working near the paint.
💥 Sydney Savoury (2027)
5’11 Guard | Belleville, MI
Savoury is an offensive powerhouse lighting up the EYBL circuit this summer. Heading into the weekend, she was averaging 25.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game. Her dominance isn’t new—last high school season, she averaged 27.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3.4 steals, earning Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
ESPN ranks her No. 15 in the 2027 class. While she’s looking to grow as a playmaker, she’s still projected to be a dynamic off-ball guard.
Savoury has received offers from a wide range of Big Ten, ACC, and SEC programs and visited Kentucky earlier this summer. Basketball runs in the family—her mom played at BYU and currently serves as an assistant athletic director at Michigan.
🚀 Sydney Mobley (2027)
6’2 Forward | Sunbury, OH
Mobley is a high-motor forward who thrives in transition and dominates the boards. She averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks last season, and even dropped a school-record 38 points in a single game back in January.
Currently ranked No. 22 by ESPN, Mobley may not yet have the prototypical post size—but with listings ranging from 6’1″ to 6’3″, she might still be growing. And athletic, scoring bigs like her are in high demand.
She visited Florida earlier this summer, and so far, only South Carolina and Notre Dame—two perennial powerhouses—have extended offers. Expect that number to grow.
South Carolina continues to reload, not rebuild, and this July recruiting sprint proves that Dawn Staley and her staff are casting a wide net to find the next generation of Gamecock stars.
