COLUMBIA — South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley doesn’t treat freshmen like freshmen.
Rookies aren’t separated from the rest of the pack. New faces are treated like any other player.
Advertisement
Through the first few weeks of preseason Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell, two 6-foot-1 guards, are mixing fine with the returning players.
“They’re good,” Staley said Sept. 22. “They’re pretty good, they’re blending in. They’re good listeners, they’re really good basketball players, really smart.”
Across the last two seasons, Staley’s freshmen have averaged 16-18 minutes per game. Makeer and McDowell are likely to get a similar chance to carve out meaningful time for themselves. Their versatility and skill set might be the perfect ingredients to mirror the success Joyce Edwards and MiLaysia Fulwiley had when they were freshmen.
How Agot Makeer, Ayla McDowell can help Dawn Staley
Staley added Ta’Niya Latson, a transfer from Florida State who led the nation with 25.2 points per game, but lost Te-Hina Paopao and Bree Hall, two guards who contributed to perimeter scoring. Latson will need help.
Advertisement
South Carolina shot 60.2% at the rim and 47% from inside the paint but 36% from midrange and 33% from the 3-point line last year. Tessa Johnson led the team in 3-point shooting at 43% but Paopao and Hall were second and third, leaving gaps for Staley to fill for behind the arc and with mid-range shooters.
Raven Johnson and Maddy McDaniel are better in a more paint-based offense and feed forwards Chloe Kitts and Joyce Edwards with dump-off passes. When defenses collapse, McDowell or Makeer will be open outside.
“I think both of them can shoot the ball,” Staley said. “Really shoot the ball, really impressively. I’m hoping that holds true throughout the season but they’re not shy about shooting, not shy about putting the ball up. I like that.”
Ayla McDowell, Agot Makeer bring versatility to South Carolina
Both will bring elements of the positionless world of high school basketball into the more structured college game.
Advertisement
Makeer was the No. 6 recruit in the class of 2025 and McDowell was No. 22 at the time of her commitment but is now No. 15 in ESPN’s rankings.
Originally from Ontario, Canada, Makeer played her senior year at Montverde Academy in Florida and averaged 10 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Makeer has a smooth, pure jump shot and disruptive length. She works through contact and finishes with strength but her scoring mentality doesn’t diminish her passing game.
McDowell, a Texas native, is a multilevel scorer who appears to find extra comfort inside the paint but her court vision creates success all over.
Advertisement
She’s creative in the air with good handles and also finishes through contact with ease. She averaged 25.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals, 3.3 assists and 1.4 blocks as a senior for Cypress Springs High School, according to MaxPreps.
Ayla McDowell, Agot Makeer expected to play for South Carolina, Dawn Staley
With the addition of Latson and 6-6 transfer center Madina Okot, Staley’s starting lineup is unknown but her freshmen get minutes. McDaniel averaged 11 minutes last season, despite playing behind Raven Johnson, who played 24.3 minutes per game. Edwards averaged 21.4.
Tessa Johnson averaged 17.8 minutes and Fulwiley averaged 18.4 as a freshman in the 2023-24 season.
Advertisement
South Carolina hasn’t missed a Final Four since 2019 and 63% of its roster this season has played in a national championship game.
Staley lost three players to the WNBA, two the transfer portal and added two, but the only players who haven’t played in a NCAA tournament game are McDowell and Makeer.
“They’re good,” Raven Johnson said. “Their IQ for the game of basketball, I’ve never seen it from a freshman. They are geling with us really well, they learn really fast. As freshmen, they want to win and learn and that’s what you like to see.”
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dawn Staley’s thoughts on South Carolina women’s basketball’s freshmen
