South Carolina relying on youth for potential run

COLUMBIA, S.C. — It has been a different run of perfection for South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, fueled by a lot of precocious, talented young players who make it difficult at times to know exactly what comes next.

“It feels a little bit different because they’re so young,” said Staley, who won NCAA titles in 2017 and 2022. “I mean, it’s like every day is a new day.”

Freshmen MiLaysia Fulwi ley and Tessa Johnson and sophomores Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Wa kins have pushed the 32-0 Gamecocks to the No. 1 overall NCAA Tourna- ment seed. The team is six victories away from the 10th perfect championship run in women’s college basketball. It’s a vast change from a year

when Staley’s group, led by All-Americans Aliyah Bos- ton and Zia Cooke, was coming off an NCAA title, drip- ping wi h college experience.

Take Fulwiley, who was a seventh grader when Staley offered her a scholarship. She grabbed attention right away with a full-court drive and a behind-the-back finish in Paris as the Gamecocks routed Notre Dame 100-71.

Fulwiley showed steadiness in leading the Game- cocks wi h 24 points in a 79-72 win over defending national champion LSU to take the Southeastern Conference Tournament title. She was tournament MVP.

“She’s changing the women’s game on the fly with how she plays and moves on the court,” NBA champion Steph Curry said as his Curry Brand signed Fulwiley to an NIL deal last week.

Watkins, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, has gained attention for the first two dunks in program history. She had one at Clemson as a freshman and added another in a win over Kentucky two months ago.

Kitts is a 6-2 sophomore who joined the program in midseason a year ago and mostly sat on the bench. The practice time paid off, with Kitts starting 28 games this season, averaging 9.2 points and six rebounds.

Ki ts acknowledged feeling disappointed on the bench last year. “How I feel now is completely different,” she says. “That’s trusting the process and the people around you.”

Tessa Johnson, at 6-foot, has averaged more than 20 minutes the past seven games, up from 12 minutes over the first 25.

South Carolina’s young players were front and center of a late-game skirmish in the SEC finals against LSU. Kitts and Johnson joined as both benches rushed the court.

They were among those ejected along with Kamilla Cardoso, who pushed LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson after a hard foul against Fulwiley. Cardoso will miss the NCAA Tournament opener Friday.