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Gamecock women's basketball: 2017 commitments/signees

2017 SIGNING CLASS

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ELISIA 'LELE' GRISSETT

Rankings: ESPNHoopGurlz: 5-star prospect, #24 overall nationally, 4th-best wing in the country. ProspectsNation: 4.5 star prospect, #25 overall nationally, 5th-best guard in the country.

Height/Position: 6'1/Wing/Small Forward

School: Durham (N.C.) Hillside

Accolades: Led Hillside to a 28-2 record and a spot in the Class 4A state semifinals. The versatile Grissett posted 22.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 3.0 blockes per game as a junior. A late arrival on the basketball court, she began playing in eighth grade and a year later averaged 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds while starting on a Hillside team that went 26-3 and sent six players to NCAA Division I programs.

Staley's Take: "An athlete with speed, quickness and jumping ability, [Elisia] has the immediate versatility to play at forward and wing. We anticipate moving her around to match her skill set and our needs. She's one of the most unselfish players we've seen and can really pass the ball."

BIANCA JACKSON

Rankings: ESPNHoopGurlz: 4-star prospect, #54 overall nationally, 11th-best wing prospect in the country. ProspectsNation: 4-star prospect, #66 overall nationally, 17th-best guard in the country.

Height/Position: 5-11/Guard/Wing

School: Montgomery (Alabama) Brewbaker Tech

Accolades: Athree-time Alabama Sports Writers Association First-Team All-State selection, she averaged 22 points, six rebounds and 4.2 assists as a junior. Her father, Lewis Jackson, and mother, Freda Freeman-Jackson, are the men’s and women’s basketball coaches, respectively, at Alabama State.

Staley's Take: “As the daughter of two basketball coaches, her knowledge of the game is apparent every time Bianca steps out on the court. She is a natural leader, and her skill set makes her a dangerous weapon on both ends of the floor. Bianca has a great feel for the game and is a true student of the game.”

HALEY TROUP

Rankings: ESPNHoopGurlz: 3-star prospect, 30th-best guard in the country. ProspectsNation: 4-star prospect, #98 overall nationally, 23rd-best guard in the country.

Height/Position: 5-9/Guard

Accolades: Troup was the Gadsden Messenger Co-Player of the Year and won Alabama's 7A Player of the Year from the ASWA. Already a 1,000-point scorer after her sophomore season, she reached the 1,000-rebound plateau last season as a junior. Averaging 17.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 2015-16, Troup played in the North/South All-Star game in July 2016.

Staley's Take: “Haley was our first commitment from Alabama who loves the game,” Staley said. “She is going to help us right away with her basketball IQ alone. She is an excellent shooter, but her best asset is her ability to see the floor and deliver the ball. Haley is a gutsy competitor who will rise to competition of the SEC.”

LADAZHIA WILLIAMS

Rankings: ESPNHoopGurlz: Five-star prospect, #47 overall nationally, 12-best forward in the country. ProspectsNation: Four-star prospect, #39 overall nationally, 6th-best post prospect in the country.

Height/Position: 6-2/Forward

School: Bradenton (Florida) Lakewood Ranch

Accolades: Before participating in the 2016 USA Basketball U18 National Team Trials, Williams was tabbed Florida Association of Basketball Coaches 7A Player of the Year. She posted 15.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game as a junior in leading Lakewood Ranch High to the state championship game. In 84 career high school games going into her senior season, Williams amassed 1,445 points, 764 rebounds and 146 blocked shots.

Staley's Take: "LaDazhia is a skilled post player who can face up and also score at the rim. We expect her to have an immediate impact within our post play. She is capable of dominating with her rebounding and demands to be guarded with her skill set. She's a shot blocker, too."


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2018 COMMITMENTS

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DESTANNI HENDERSON

Rankings: ESPNHoopGurlz: Five-star prospect, #10 overall nationally, 2nd-best point guard prospect in the country. ProspectsNation: Five-star prospect, #9 overall nationally, 2nd-best point guard prospect in the country.

Height/Position: 5-8/Point Guard

School: Lehigh Acres (Florida) Fort Myers

* Dawn Staley cannot publicly comment on unsigned prospects

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