Dawn Staley reviews freshman Joyce Edwards' double-double in South Carolina debut: “She was a little nervous”
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley was asked on Wednesday about Joyce Edwards' debut for the Gamecocks. At SEC Media Day, Staley spoke highly of the freshman forward, highlighting her hard work in practice and the nerves she felt before the game.
The South Carolina native, who graduated from Camden High School, made her debut under Dawn Staley on Tuesday night in an exhibition at Memphis.
"Joyce played extremely well," Staley said. "She played like she's been practicing, so I didn't know how she'd be just because it's her first college game, you know. She was a little nervous at the beginning of the game, right before we started."
(Staley comments on Edwards from the 2:13 mark)
Edwards posted a double-double before halftime and ended with a team-high 19 points, to go with 12 rebounds. South Carolina won in dominant fashion, 106-63.
Dawn Staley also expressed her confidence in Edwards' ability to read the game and impose herself on both ends of the court.
"I think sometimes with a player like that [Edwards], they might need to see the game a little bit and anticipate what's going to happen out there on the floor. But the moment we inserted her into the game, she imposed her will on both sides of the basketball."
Staley also praised Edwards for her maturity as a freshman.
"Super high intelligence, high competitor, and just plays the right way. [She's] very, very mature for her age."
How USC recruited Joyce Edwards
With her achievements at the high school level propping her stocks up, Joyce Edwards began her journey as a Gamecock as the most highly anticipated South Carolina women’s basketball recruit since WNBA star A’ja Wilson.
Ranked as ESPN’s No. 2 recruit in the 2024 class, Edwards committed to the Gamecocks in November after speaking with Wilson at USC's 2023-24 home opener against Maryland. They discussed Edwards' potential and the opportunity to develop into a star under the guidance of legendary coach Dawn Staley.
Three days later, she committed to USC.
Since her commitment, the 6-foot-3 versatile forward has won several accolades, including the AmeriCup MVP, McDonald’s All-American MVP and U18 FIBA AmeriCup MVP. She was also the 2023-24 national Gatorade Player of the Year.
Joyce Edwards and the Gamecocks will go again in their final preseason game on Oct. 28 before their season tips off in Vegas on Nov. 4.