South Carolina Gamecocks Secure Five-Star Forward From Tacoma While Chloe Kitts Is Already Back In The Lab Preparing Hard

The South Carolina Gamecocks just added a serious force to their basketball future—and it couldn’t have come at a more electric time. A 6-foot-3 five-star forward from Tacoma, Washington, who stars for Elite Sports Academy, has officially committed to Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks, choosing the reigning national champions over powerhouse programs LSU, Tennessee, and Texas. It’s a massive win on the recruiting trail, and as one promising chapter begins for the Gamecocks, another continues to unfold in the gym with Chloe Kitts, who is already back in the lab preparing for what could be her most dominant season yet.

For South Carolina fans, this commitment is more than just a headline—it’s a confirmation of the Gamecocks’ continued pull on the national stage. With schools like LSU and Tennessee throwing everything they had at the elite forward, it was South Carolina’s culture, consistency, and Coach Staley’s vision that ultimately sealed the deal. And while the new recruit brings upside, athleticism, and an inside-out scoring threat, it’s the work ethic and development of current players like Kitts that will help maintain South Carolina’s championship standard.

Chloe Kitts isn’t just another name on the roster—she’s a cornerstone. The rising star is back in the gym, sharpening her skills, lifting, sprinting, drilling, and watching film. Her return to the lab this offseason is a sign of hunger and maturity, and her grind has quickly become symbolic of what it means to be a Gamecock. With a national championship in her back pocket, Kitts could easily rest, reset, and let the celebration linger. But that’s not her style. She’s choosing the hard route, the relentless route—the one that leads back to the Final Four.

Kitts’ return to training so soon after the season speaks volumes. It tells us that South Carolina’s success isn’t an accident—it’s built, brick by brick, sweat by sweat. Even as confetti still metaphorically falls from their title-winning season, Kitts is working like she’s still chasing something. That mentality spreads like wildfire in a locker room, and for a young five-star like the Tacoma native walking into that culture, it’s an instant blueprint for success.

The commitment of the five-star forward comes on the heels of what has already been a summer full of momentum for the Gamecocks. With MiLaysia Fulwiley announcing her return and Kitts elevating her game in the shadows of the gym lights, South Carolina continues to look like the program everyone else is chasing. What separates them from the rest, though, isn’t just banners—it’s the player development that happens when no cameras are around.

For the new recruit, South Carolina offers a perfect blend of competition and mentorship. She’ll join a frontcourt rotation rich in talent, but also one that embraces shared success. She’ll get to learn firsthand from Kitts, a player who entered Columbia with talent and has transformed into a matchup nightmare because of her tireless offseason efforts. Kitts isn’t just lifting weights—she’s lifting the standard.

Recruiting rankings are helpful, but culture is what defines a program. The fact that a West Coast elite like the Tacoma forward is willing to travel across the country to don the garnet and black says everything about what Coach Staley has built. From A’ja Wilson to Aliyah Boston to Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina’s frontcourt has been the gold standard in women’s college basketball. And now, with Kitts blazing her own path and mentoring the next wave, the tradition shows no signs of slowing down.

Kitts’ offseason work also reflects her own ambition. She’s not just trying to be a cog in the machine—she’s trying to be the engine. She wants the ball late in games, wants the responsibility on both ends, and wants to be known not just as a champion, but as a leader. That kind of mindset, coupled with the arrival of a hungry five-star freshman, is what fuels dynasties.

Coach Staley is no stranger to elite talent, but what she values most is buy-in. For the incoming forward, stepping onto campus means stepping into a culture where effort is non-negotiable. From the very first lift to the last huddle of the season, everything matters. Kitts exemplifies that standard. And she’s not keeping it to herself—she’s setting the tone for those who come after her.

Off the court, Kitts is evolving as well. Her voice is louder, her presence stronger. Whether it’s breaking down film with teammates, mentoring underclassmen, or owning her role in the locker room, she’s emerging as one of the Gamecocks’ emotional leaders. The grind this summer isn’t just physical—it’s mental. It’s the small details, the precision, the repeatability that transforms good players into great ones.

The newest Gamecock commit will walk into a program already clicking on every level. But she’ll also be challenged like never before. That’s what she signed up for. Watching someone like Kitts do two-a-days in June, dive for loose balls in July, and lead with fire in August—that’s the kind of iron that sharpens iron. And South Carolina doesn’t just recruit stars; it molds them.

In a sport where the transfer portal and NIL buzz often overshadow the heart of the game, stories like Chloe Kitts grinding in the gym offer a reminder of what still matters: hard work, dedication, and a commitment to the craft. That’s why South Carolina continues to dominate—not just because they get the best players, but because those players never stop getting better.

And for the 6-foot-3 forward from Tacoma, Washington, that’s the environment she’s chosen. She’ll leave behind the Pacific Northwest for a chance to grow in Columbia, and she’ll be stepping into a legacy of excellence. She’ll join Kitts, Fulwiley, and a cast of determined Gamecocks who don’t flinch at expectations—they chase them down.

As Kitts puts in the unseen work, and as another five-star walks through the doors of Colonial Life Arena, one thing is crystal clear: South Carolina isn’t done. They’re just getting started again. The grind doesn’t stop because a banner was raised. If anything, it intensifies. Because here, being a Gamecock means you don’t just celebrate greatness—you create it.

So while the headlines talk about the new commitment, the real story is being written in the gym—rep after rep, drill after drill. Chloe Kitts is already writing her next chapter. And soon, the five-star from Tacoma will begin hers. Together, they’re not just part of the next wave. They are the next wave. And the rest of the country better be ready.