COLUMBIA — Madina Okot, a 6-foot-6 center from Mississippi State has reportedly committed to South Carolina women’s basketball to play for coach Dawn Staley.
On3 reported the news on April 21. Okot entered the transfer portal on April 4, as South Carolina was playing in the Final Four against Texas.
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The news comes hours after Staley wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, “A birdie just flew in the nest!!!” which is what she says before recruitment announcements. According to social media posts, Okot was in Columbia with the Gamecocks and Staley from April 18-20.
Okot played just one season in Starkville after spending two years playing for Zetech University in Kenya. As a junior, she started all 34 games and averaged 11.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.
In the win over Vanderbilt, she had 21 points and 23 rebounds.
She had 11 double-doubles this season, including a 14 point, 17 rebound game in the season opener on Nov. 7 against Memphis. Against Cal. in the second round of the NCAA tournament, she had 14 points, 13 rebounds and in the season-ending loss to Southern Cal. she had eight points, six boards and two steals.
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This is a major pickup for Staley. The Gamecocks were in need of a true center all year, as both 6-foot-5 Adhel Tac and Sakima Walker were battling injuries and trying to get healthy enough for quality minutes. Walker entered the transfer portal on Tuesday.
Sania Feagin at 6-foot-3 started as a forward all season but is now in the WNBA. Although freshman Joyce Edwards will likely take her place in the starting lineup if Staley wants to go with three guards and two forwards, Okot can provide quality minutes off the bench as Tac works to get more comfortable.
Staley said she wanted someone with experience and although Okot only spent one year in the SEC, it’s a huge advantage that she’s comfortable with the physicality of the conference and has knowledge of what it’s like to face a lot of SEC defenses.
TRACKER: South Carolina women’s basketball transfer portal tracker 2025: Who’s in, out for Dawn Staley
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Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina, Dawn Staley land center Madina Okot from Mississippi State | Report
