Joyce Edwards earns co-MVP Award at McDonald's All-American game
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Less than a week after being named the Gatorade National Player of the Year, South Carolina signee and Camden (S.C.) superstar Joyce Edwards took home the co-MVP Award at the prestigious McDonald’s All-American game on Tuesday night.
Edwards, who shared the award with Sarah Strong, scored a game-high 19 points in the matchup which took place in Houston. Edwards’ East team won 98-74 over the West.
“When you think about it, these are the girls that you’re going to get drafted with and you’re going to be sisters with and you’re going to college with them,” Edwards said, according to the AP. “It’s making memories and establishing a foundation for us to build a relationship into something much further into the future.”
The 6-foot-2 Edwards is considered the No. 2 prospect in the 2024 class by ESPN while Strong is considered the top player in the cycle. Strong, who is uncommitted, was at one time also considering the Gamecocks but will reportedly soon choose from finalists UConn, Duke, and North Carolina.
Edwards, who plays basketball, soccer, and volleyball, averaged 31.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.5 steals, and 3.3 blocks per game on the court during her senior season.
She chose South Carolina in November over finalists LSU and Clemson.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to go to South Carolina, especially at the beginning of my recruitment,” told On3’s Jamie Shaw during the McDonald’s week “They didn’t have my major, but my dad worked on campus so he was kind of close. I feel like at the end of the day Dawn Staley drew me to South Carolina.
“Between my top three schools, I told them all that I didn’t think I was going to be able to sign early,” Edwards continued, “But just the way that Coach Staley responded was different from the other coaches. That is really what helped make my decision for them.”
Edwards took home some additional hardware this week, earning the 2024 Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year Award.
Each year, this award goes to a high school player who demonstrates outstanding character and leadership and embodies the values of being a student-athlete through schoolwork and community affairs.
“It’s an honor to be considered with the likes of A’ja (Wilson) and Zion Williams, the great players that came from South Carolina before me,” Edwards told Shaw. “At the end of the day, you have to meet the expectations and you have to put the work in daily. But I am grateful for that opportunity.”
South Carolina guard signee Madisen McDaniel also made the 24-woman McDonald’s roster, though her senior season was cut short due to a knee injury.
