WBB: Staley addresses transfers

SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Dawn Staley addressed three players’ decisions to transfer at her year-end press conference on Wednesday.

Te’a Cooper, Bianca Jackson, and LaDazhia Williams each entered their name into the NCAA transfer portal last week. A fourth, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, also entered her name, but changed her mind and decided to stay at South Carolina. Staley had exit interviews with each player last Tuesday, and after that the players decided to transfer. Staley spoke with Herbert Harrigan, but has not spoken to the other three, but addressed them in an opening statement.

“Over the past two weeks or so there has been a lot of movement in our program, movement I didn’t welcome, but that’s the way it is,” Staley said. “I’m only going to speak this one time on the players that decided to transfer out. I don’t know the reasons why.”

WBB: Herbert Harrigan will return for her senior season

In a press release Tuesday night, Jackson committed to Florida State, where she will sit out a year and then have two seasons of eligibility remaining. Cooper and Williams have not announced their intentions. Cooper attended the Gamecock Gala with her soon-to-be former teammates Monday night, but did not talk to reporters. Staley, declining to be specific, gave them her best wishes.

“I’m really not going to speak on Te’a or LaDazhia or Bianca Jackson. They are somebody else’s players, whether they picked a team or not yet,” Staley said. “I wish them well. I want them to find their happiness, find their bliss. If I can help them in any way, I surely will.”

There was speculation (including mine) that the players who transferred may have looked at the incoming freshman class, which is top-ranked and considered to be one of the best in history, and wondered where they would get playing time. Staley did not discuss playing time with any of the four in their exit interviews, and Herbert Harrigan never brought it up in the ensuing conversations.

That doesn’t mean those players never thought about it. In fact, there is so much talent coming in that the Gamecocks should be better next year. Staley implied as much as she wrapped up her opening statement.

“Our program is healthy, contrary to what some people may believe,” Staley said. “It’s healthy. It’s in a place where we’re thriving. It’s in a place where everybody that continues to be a Gamecock, their dreams will come true.”