COLUMBIA — Alicia Tournebize may be the youngest player on South Carolina’s roster, but she’s already navigating territory that feels familiar
At just 18 years old, the 6-foot-7 forward joined the Gamecocks after competing at the professional level with French powerhouse Tango Bourges Basket. Being one of the youngest players on a roster isn’t new to Tournebize — she was in the same position overseas before making the move to Columbia.
Through her first four games in garnet and black, Tournebize has offered flashes of what she could become. While there’s no urgency for immediate dominance, South Carolina has welcomed every positive contribution she’s been able to provide.
Her former Bourges teammate, Kariata Diaby, saw that growth begin long before Tournebize arrived in the SEC.
“Alicia learns very quickly, over the year she joined the first team of Bourges, she has proven that she has her place among us,” Diaby told The Greenville News via email.
Now, Tournebize is beginning to carve out her role with the No. 3 Gamecocks (20-2, 6-1 SEC).
Diaby, a 6-foot-4 center, brings significant experience of her own. After appearing in 13 games with the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun in 2025, she returned to France and has become one of Bourges’ most productive players, averaging 11.6 points per game — second-best on the team.
From that vantage point, she watched Tournebize adjust to the professional level at a remarkably young age.
“For her first season, she was observant, given her age, which is quite normal, but over time she will become a great player and very complete on all levels,” Diaby wrote.
Tournebize officially arrived in Columbia on Jan. 1 but didn’t see game action until Jan. 15. She practiced for roughly a week before debuting and spent three games observing from the bench. Her first appearance came in the opening quarter of South Carolina’s top-five showdown against Texas.
She didn’t score in five minutes during that debut, but her confidence quickly followed. Three days later against Coppin State, she poured in eight points in 13 minutes. In the Jan. 22 loss to Oklahoma, Tournebize posted nine points on 4-of-6 shooting, added three rebounds and finished as one of just two Gamecocks with a positive plus-minus in 14 minutes.
Against the Sooners, she displayed her versatility — cutting for easy finishes, knocking down a 3-pointer and converting a smooth stop-and-pop jumper from short range.
Her athleticism stands out immediately. At 6-foot-7, she moves and elevates in ways that are uncommon for players her size. Diaby believes Tournebize’s offensive versatility — from attacking off the dribble to shooting from midrange and beyond the arc — will remain a foundational part of her game.
“She is able to counter and outsmart the opponent on defense,” Diaby wrote. “It’s complicated to score against her. She is a player who manages to do everything on the court whether it is near or far from the rim.”
Tournebize was held scoreless against Vanderbilt on Jan. 25, but through her early stretch with South Carolina, she’s averaging 4.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 11.5 minutes per game ahead of the matchup with Auburn (13-8, 2-5 SEC) on Jan. 29.
South Carolina has not yet made Tournebize available for interviews, but those who know her best continue to emphasize her mindset.
“I think she is someone who will quickly evolve in the world of basketball because she wants to learn and progress,” Diaby wrote.
Head coach Dawn Staley recently described Tournebize as “unafraid,” a sentiment echoed by her former teammate.
“She is very competitive, she wants to win especially and does not like to lose, even if her shyness does not show it,” Diaby wrote. “She puts all the chances on her side and fights on all aspects and gives energy to her team.”
As Tournebize continues to develop within South Carolina’s system, her growth is rooted in attentiveness and adaptability — qualities that fit seamlessly into the program’s long-term blueprint.
“Alicia is very kind, easy to live with on and off the court, she listens to others, that’s what I loved about her,” Diaby wrote. “She really has talent and wants to succeed at the highest level simply, all I wish her success in her career and in her life. She is someone who wants to shine everywhere.”
