South Carolina lacked a post presence in 2024-25.
After having Aliyah Boston and then Kamilla Cardoso, the lack of a true big really hurt the Gamecocks late in March.
Dawn Staley won’t have that problem in 2025-26 after addressing it in the transfer portal.
Mississippi State’s Madina Okot committed to South Carolina, it was announced on social media.
Okot will be a senior and averaged 11.3 points and 9.6 rebounds for the Bulldogs. She’s the player in the portal who could most easily help South Carolina get better, and now the Gamecocks have her.
The no-bigs strategy came into play last season for Staley and her assistants at times, but this time around, they’ll have a gigantic interior force.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
The 6-foot-6 junior is winding down on the journey through the transfer portal. It had to be both exhilarating and stressful for South Carolina and for Okot, or it wouldn’t have felt like the Gamecocks earned a big reward for their patience.
Okot will be one of the tallest basketball players on any campus, male or female. At 6-6 with a friendly smile, Okot should be a fan favorite. And now she’s got Staley on her side to unlock her full potential.
South Carolina is scary no matter who is on the court…
