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Next Ole Miss Diaper Dandy? Jacobs named South Carolina’s 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year

Ben Garrettby: Ben Garrett03/13/25SpiritBen
Lauren Jacobs

Ole Miss women’s basketball is barreling towards its fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. 

Selection Sunday is March 16 at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN. The Rebels are a projected 4-seed in Region 3 (Spokane), according to the latest bracketology from ESPN. Ole Miss would host a 13-seed — in this case, South Florida — in Oxford in such a scenario.

Not since 1994 have the Ole Miss women hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

“I think we deserve it as much as anybody else,” seventh-year Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said. “Here’s the thing: If we do host, Oxford is going to show up. Oxford loves those type of situations.”

The Rebels (21-10) went 1-1 last week in the SEC Tournament, including a win over in-state rival Mississippi State.

Ole Miss PG signee Lauren Jacobs (Photo credit: Lauren Jacobs-Instagram)

They’ve already made plenty of history and the future’s never been brighter.

All-time great Madison Scott won the Gillom Trophy on Monday. Scott last week became an All-SEC second-teamer for the second time in her career. Sira Thienou, a point guard, landed on the All-Freshman team.

Scott is one of five seniors set to depart after the season. Thienou, though, is the present and future. She’s on pace to break the program record for most steals by an Ole Miss freshman. 

And she’s got some help on the way.

Signee Lauren Jacobs on Thursday was honored as South Carolina’s 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year. Jacobs, also a point guard, joins fellow Heathwood Hall High School grad A’Ja Wilson (2014), a three-time WNBA MVP.

“Lauren is a competitor and it makes her perfect for our conference,” McPhee-McCuin previously said of Jacobs. “She can score at all three levels. She’s a fierce defender and a leader. She will seamlessly transition into our system, with our program and with the Oxford community.”

Jacobs was ranked as a 4-star recruit and the nation’s No. 83 overall player by ESPN’s HoopGurlz. She averaged 25.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.4 assists as a senior and finished with a career 2,164 points.

“I chose Ole Miss because, first of all, the relationship Coach Yo and I built,” Jacobs said. “I love the style of play and felt the Rebels can help me reach my goal of playing in the WNBA. After my official visit, it solidified my decision on choosing Ole Miss.”

Ole Miss signee Lauren Jacobs (Photo credit: Lauren Jacobs-Instagram)

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