2 weeks Ago By Jeremy Goldstein
South Carolina's and a national championship, is about to get even stronger in 2024-25. scored her highest-ranked recruit since she secured a decade ago by signing Joyce Edwards, the nation's second-best recruit. Madisen McDaniel, the 12th-best recruit affectionately known as "Maddy Mouse", should not fall through the cracks.
Who is McDaniel? The Maryland native committed to back in 2023. McDaniel will likely have to sit behind junior point guard Raven Johnson, who started 35 games while averaging 8.1 points and 4.
8 for the national champions a season ago. "Playing behind Raven [Johnson], learning, that’s gonna be good," McDaniel told . "You know, coming in, pushing it full court, running the team, that’s just what my mind’s on and just doing everything I gotta do to win.
" McDaniel is used to sitting and learning, though not by choice. The 18-year-old tore her ACL during her freshman year of high school before tearing her meniscus in February of this year. However, she managed to learn the experience into a learning opportunity: “Seeing [the game] from the sideline, you would be like, ‘Why’d you make that pass?’ But playing on the court, when you’re in front, you would definitely think, ‘Oh, that angle’s open.
I can definitely get it there.' “So being able to tell my teammates, ‘Oh, look at this. Look at that,’ and watching them go out there and do it, it’s like when you really sit down and sit back and pay attention, the game is easier than you think.
” , a three-time NCAA Champion and four-time Naismith Coach of the Year, is bullish on how McDaniel can help the team. McDaniel will team up with Johnson, sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley, senior Te-Hina Paopao to form a fearsome backcourt. The Gamecocks will feel the loss of 2023-24 points and rebounds leader Kamilla Cardoso, drafted by the Chicago Sky with the third overall pick.
They'll start the new season against Michigan on November 4. Many fans are eager for the Hollywood showdown against the UConn Huskies on February 16..
