Everything Joyce Edwards said about committing to South Carolina
South Carolina Women’s Basketball: News • Recruiting • Schedule • Roster • Stats • SEC Standings • NCAA Polls • Scholarship Chart
It’s been one week since Joyce Edwards announced her decision to stay home and become a Gamecock. She’s the centerpiece of South Carolina’s 2024 class, which also includes Madisen McDaniel and Adhel Tac, and is ranked second overall. Read everything Edwards said about the recruiting process and her decision to become a Gamecock.
When did you know you wanted to play for USC?
Joyce: I probably really said it out loud on Sunday after they played Maryland. I was thinking about it for a while, but it’s the first time it kind of hit me.
How tough was the decision, going between winning programs and great coaches?
Joyce: It was hard, especially between local winning programs, really good coaching staffs. I loved all the coaching staffs. But I felt like the difference was the coach. I asked all individual coaches some questions. I feel like Dawn responded the best. I feel like she’s really reliable and is someone I can continue my athletic career with.
What was the experience on Sunday like for you with all the former players at the game?
Joyce: Sunday was a deep experience. I mean, they were all there. There was a lot of talent there. I can see myself playing at South Carolina. They obviously have players who played in WNBA, played and pros, who actually are doing good.
[$1 for unlimited access to GamecockCentral’s content and community]
What position will you play?
Joyce: I mean, it’s too early. I’m gonna try to play wherever the team needs me. Probably primarily the four, it’s where I play now, but play me anywhere, just whenever I can contribute.
Next season will have a lot of local talent on the team. What does it say about the talent here in the Columbia area?
Joyce: Obviously, South Carolina is the best. We’ve got the best basketball female basketball athletes. I love it here.
How well do you know Fulwiley?
Joyce: I played with and against Ashlyn and MiLaysia through freshman year of high school. I was on the same AAU team as them before. I played against them in AAU before. I know them pretty well.
Talk about the recruiting process and what Dawn told you during the process.
Joyce: She came on me hard. Originally, I wasn’t gonna go to South Carolina. They didn’t have my major. But she tried her hardest. She figured out ways through their Honors program where I can get the experience through my academics and athletics. It just showed how hard she worked just to not give up.
What part of your game are you working on to get better at?
Joyce: Just expanding my jumpshot, of course. Continue working on the fundamentals, it’s really important. But ball handling and extending my jump shot to the three and keeping my midrange consistent (are) really my main three focuses right now.
[Win two tickets to the South Carolina-Clemson football game]
Do you remember the first time you went to Colonial Life Arena?
Joyce: No I don’t. I’ve been there so many times. Not necessarily.
Have you dreamed of playing on that court as a Gamecock?
Joyce: I feel like South Carolina is a really big stage. Their fans always show up. It’s hard playing against them. The energy there is crazy. And being a part of that now is actually crazy. I’m happy that their fans are going with me instead of against me.
What’s your comfort level with your decision?
Joyce: I’m really comfortable with my decision. I’ve been recruited for a long time, since middle school. We’ve thought through this for a really long time, I feel like I’ve been on multiple, multiple visits. So I feel like it’s a very thorough thought process. So that’s why I’m extremely comfortable with it.
What was today like for you?
Joyce: It’s like a weight lifted off my shoulders. It’s been a long (process), even though my mom took a lot of burden off of me, it’s still been a long process for me and for her especially. But yes, like I said, a weight being lifted off my shoulders.
How important was your family during this process?
Joyce: they were huge. They’re the people closest to me, and the people I talk to the most. They’re like my best friends. I go to them for everything and everything. So they, of course, were going to be a part of my decision and their input was going to be really important.
Mom, did she make the right decision?
Rasheeda: I think she made the right decision because it was her decision. Me and her dad deliberately took her everywhere. I mean, we’ve been to Texas, to North Carolina, and the West Coast. We’ve been everywhere and we did that because we did not want her to choose a school based on location. We want her to choose a school that was the right fit for her, that had her academic goals, her athletic goals, and would cover her and would take good care of her. She got all the information, she’d been to all the schools, and the fact that she chose a school to offer her first – to me, it’s still mind-boggling. But because she made it, it’s the right choice.
[On3 App: Get South Carolina push notifications from GamecockCentral]
And she gets to stay close to home.
Rasheeda: That’s a benefit. That’s a bonus. We’ll be able to go see her play.
What position are you at right now?
Joyce: Primarily four, probably, but I can slide anywhere depending on what the team needs at the moment. Just be as versatile as possible and be prepared for every situation, is my goal.
What do you bring in?
Joyce: Hopefully, a player who can play both ends on a consistent basis, especially defense, just focusing on my defense. I know offense will come as a game comes and as I get used to college and the speed of college.
What was it like having Chloe Kitts here and did you know she was coming?
Joyce: Yeah, she texted me. She asked me, she wanted to come. I was like, Yeah, of course. She was cool. Playing with her on USA (basketball), we became really close and I’m just happy that she’s here.
Who was your second choice?
Joyce: That’s a hard decision. You’re putting me on the spot like that. I really don’t know. LSU was a national, (championship) winning program but Clemson, with their friendly environment, I really can’t choose.
When did you know?
Joyce: Probably Sunday.
What do you want to say to Gamecock Nation?
Joyce: Thank you for having me and go cocks!
Do you remember the first South Carolina game you ever went to? And did you imagine that you would be playing there yourself?
Joyce: I’ve been there so many times. I do not exactly remember the first time I went to a college game. But I do know that their environment is really crazy. It’s a very harsh environment to play in for the opponent. I’m really excited to be there. I’ve seen their fans close up, obviously, sitting next to them. Everybody supporting me, supporting whatever decision I did. I know that playing for them is an honor.
South Carolina was your first offer. What’s it like to go full circle?
Joyce: That’s really crazy when I think about it, especially since we traveled across the United States go to visits and go to colleges and they were the place. Home was in my backyard.
Have you talked to coach Staley since you decided?
Joyce: I have. I actually specifically told her on Sunday after the Maryland game. It was the first time I verbally said that.
What was her initial reaction?
Joyce: She was happy. She just put her head down. She looked like she was about to cry, but I don’t want to put her on the spot like that. But she was really proud, So was the whole coaching staff.
How has your relationship with her evolved over the years from the first time that she saw you play basketball?
Joyce: I went to her camp in the sixth or seventh grade, the first time she had seen me. She was going to offer me there, but I left early. I had to go. They call me on the way back home from an AAU game. That’s when she offered me. Our relationship got really, really close over the years. I feel like the more games I came to and the older I got, that bond just continued to grow.
Did you meet with the Freshies or A’ja Wilson at the Maryland game?
Joyce: Me and A’ja had a good conversation at half time. All the people who were there, the returning players, they’re all really cool. I had a conversation with A’ja specifically, though, because we play the same position.
[Newsletters: Get breaking news and analysis from GamecockCentral]
Did she give you any good advice?
Joyce: She gave me a lot of good advice. She did.
Could you recap the whole process of choosing USC?
Joyce: I’m very comfortable with my decision. It was a very hard process. But I thought through it thoroughly. A long process, like I said. I had a lot of time to decide and I feel like South Carolina was the best home for me academically and athletically through their honors program and through Dawn Staley, of course.
What pushed them over the edge?
Joyce: My top three schools all kind of were the whole package for me, but I knew want to win as many national championships as possible and I feel like Dawn can get me to that level. And additionally, I feel like her coaching and her reliability also pushed me there. I knew that I can come to her for anything and that was really big for me.
Edwards’ future coach and teammate also reacted to the decision.
Dawn Staley:
It was unbelievable because for the longest we had no idea. It was six schools or seven schools, and then it got down to five schools, and it got down to three schools. I don’t think she knew until that moment. And so we’re on pins and needles. We want to get it done, and we want to hear that yes. When we heard she’s coming to USC, when we heard her voice say it, i was relieved really didn’t believe it, what I was hearing, because it really was a lot easier than I was imagining it. I think the moment, the being in the gym, to hearing “We want Joyce,” to talking to A’ja, to talking to the freshies, to when our current roster saw her in the tunnel, they all broke in big smiles and cheers. I think the moment met her and it felt good. It felt good for me. It felt good for all of us. Everybody was jumping around and I’m like (puts her head in her hands). It was a cool moment.
MiLaysia Fulwiley:
When we realized Joyce committed to us yesterday, we were in tutoring, we were so excited. We just can’t wait to get on the court with her. She grabs rebounds, she runs the floor. She can do it all, really. I’ve been playing against her since I was in (middle school) so I can’t wait to play with her.
