South Carolina’s New Point Guard Picture: Several Options, No Clear-Cut Answer Yet
With Maddy McDaniel no longer in the mix, South Carolina enters the upcoming season without a traditional, proven point guard. Rather than relying on one player to take complete control of the position, the Gamecocks appear more likely to lean on a committee approach while different players compete for minutes and responsibilities.
The leading candidate to open the season at the position is Tessa Johnson. She gained valuable experience handling point guard duties last year whenever McDaniel was unavailable, sharing those responsibilities alongside Ta’Niya Latson. Johnson also benefits from three seasons in Dawn Staley’s system, giving her a strong understanding of the offense. Before arriving in Columbia, she was her high school’s primary floor general, making her one of the roster’s most natural options.
Another intriguing possibility is Agot Makeer, whose versatility could become a major asset. Although her collegiate experience running the offense is limited, she played point guard during her high school career and has already shown she can defend the position at a high level. During stretches of last season—particularly in the NCAA Tournament—Makeer frequently matched up defensively against opposing point guards while Raven Johnson handled the offensive duties. That experience isn’t extensive, but it provides a foundation.
From an analytical standpoint, Makeer’s defensive ability could influence lineup decisions. Her effectiveness against opposing lead guards gives South Carolina another reason to explore expanding her offensive responsibilities if the coaching staff believes she can comfortably direct the offense.
Freshman Jerzy Robinson also enters the conversation. While she wasn’t a traditional pass-first point guard in high school, she often initiated her team’s offense because she was its most talented player. That experience should help ease her transition, although she’ll need time to adjust to the speed and complexity of the college game. Fortunately, Robinson has the remainder of the offseason to continue learning the position before meaningful games begin.
Transfer Jordan Lee represents another possibility, albeit one with a steeper learning curve. She has never served as a point guard during either her high school career or her time at Texas. Even so, South Carolina’s current roster situation means nearly every capable ball-handler will receive an opportunity to prove they can contribute at the position during offseason workouts. At this stage, however, Lee appears to be more of a developmental option than a favorite for the role.
Perhaps the most intriguing wildcard is Chloe Kitts. Although she isn’t expected to line up as a traditional point guard, her skill set allows her to function as a point forward. Kitts handled lead-guard duties earlier in her basketball career and has consistently demonstrated exceptional court vision. Her passing ability was on full display when she recorded 10 assists against Ole Miss in 2025—a feat no other current Gamecock has accomplished. Rather than bringing the ball up every possession, Kitts could become a key offensive initiator from the frontcourt, giving South Carolina another creative solution as it searches for answers at point guard.
Ultimately, the Gamecocks don’t appear to have one obvious replacement at the position. Instead, the coaching staff has several versatile players with different strengths, and preseason practices will likely determine which combination provides the balance of ball-handling, playmaking, and defense needed to guide South Carolina’s offense.
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