Coach Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks lost five players via the portal and to the WNBA, and gained four for 2025-26, but when next season ends they’re set to lose even more talent.

South Carolina’s Chloe Kitts, Raven Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson, Maryam Dauda, Ashlyn Watkins and Madina Okot will all be out of eligibility. It’s not confirmed whether Watkins will get a medical redshirt season or not.

Staley will return Ayla McDowell, Agot Makeer, Tessa Johnson, Adhel Tac, Maddy McDaniel and Joyce Edwards for 2026-27, depending on who enters the portal.

Given the major gaps to fill, Staley has been recruiting and watching high school basketball so far this offseason. She was at an AAU event hosted by Select Events Basketball in Manheim, Pennsylvania, from April 25-27.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
She could use depth in every position after next season but here’s a list of names to keep an eye on.

ESPN does not have anyone in its top 60 players in the class of 2026 from South Carolina.

Oliviyah Edwards, forward
Oliviyah Edwards is from Tacoma, Washington, and plays high school basketball for Elite Sports Academy. The 6-foot-3 five-star forward is the No. 4 ranked player in ESPN’s HoopGurlz rankings for the class of 2026.

Edwards is already somewhat familiar with Columbia, as she was on campus in January ahead of the Gamecocks’ game against LSU and was seen at practice the day before the win.

She had 23 points and seven rebounds in an AAU game in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on April 26.

While it’s still a mystery where McDowell, a small forward, and Makeer, a wing will play this season, losing Kitts and Watkins is more than enough reason to recruit Edwards hard. She can join the other Edwards (Joyce), in the paint.

Depth at forward has always been Staley’s specialty, and she has the tools in Columbia to turn a great high school forward into a pro. So she may go hard for Edwards as she’s developing in her senior high school season.

Jordyn Jackson, guard
Jordyn Jackson is a 6-1 guard from Washington, DC, who is No. 8 in the class of 2026 rankings. The five-star guard plays for Sidwell Friends High School and was named the 2024-25 Gatorade District of Columbia Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

On Jan. 31, she announced her final six schools are: South Carolina, TCU, Ohio State, Miami, Maryland and Alabama.

Although Tessa Johnson will return, and Makeer can play a guard role, recruiting a true guard should be a priority for Staley. She brings height like Johnson does, and can balance out the guard room, giving some different play style than McDaniel brings as the true point.

Kate Harpring, point guard
Kate Harpring is No. 2 in ESPN’s rankings and is a five-star 5-foot-10 point guard.

She’s from Atlanta, Georgia and plays for Marist School. She is the daughter of former NBA star Matt Harpring, who played for the Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic after playing at Georgia Tech.

She was named Georgia’s Gatorade Player of the Year, averaging 32.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 5.1 steals and 3.7 assists.