What South Carolina star Aliyah Boston’s Team USA invite means for her, Olympic future

Aliyah Boston is very good rule follower — just ask anyone around South Carolina’s basketball program. The self-described perfectionist is one who excels at having clear expectations … and then quickly surpassing them. She’s the kind of person who likes a good, planned-out list.

But you must forgive Boston for her transgression in August, when she got the email that she was invited into Team USA’s senior training camp ahead of the World Cup. The email read, at the top: Do not share this information with anyone.

So, what did Boston do?

“I told my entire family,” she admits.

But not before also calling her mom — screaming into the phone, “I got invited to USA’s. The grown women, the grown women! I’m invited!” — and then calling South Carolina coach Dawn Staley.

The senior training camp, held from Sept. 5-12 in Las Vegas, would require Boston to miss some practices with the Gamecocks, so Staley’s blessing was a must (and given how close Boston is with her family, that was a must, too). But Boston said she didn’t worry too much about Staley’s permission, especially considering Staley’s experience with the senior national team as both a player and coach.

“Coach Staley has always been about helping us get to where we want to get to. Whether it was me…