On Thursday, South Carolina women’s basketball secured its first commitment for the Class of 2025 with five-star recruit Ayla McDowell. During a ceremony at her school, McDowell pledged to join Coach Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks.
“I loved everything about South Carolina,” McDowell shared in an interview with VYPE Magazine following her announcement. “It’s important for me to be happy wherever I go, and I felt that happiness there. I was surrounded by great teammates and coaches, and I felt comfortable… I just loved it.”
Hailing from Cypress Hill High School in Texas, McDowell is ranked 20th in the nation by ESPN’s HoopGurlz rankings. She can officially sign with USC starting on November 15, the first day of the signing period for basketball.
The 6-foot-2 player chose USC over schools like Georgia Tech, Florida, TCU, LSU, and Mississippi State. Her official visit to USC took place earlier this month, where she attended the Gamecocks’ home football game against Ole Miss on October 5. McDowell had also visited Texas A&M, Houston, and Baylor.
As a junior, she averaged 19.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 2.4 assists, helping Cypress Hill High School achieve a 30-3 record and reach the third round of the playoffs.
During the summer, she played for CyFair Elite, contributing to their championship win on the NIKE EYBL AAU circuit, and represented Brazil in the AmeriCup Women’s 18U championship, averaging 14.8 points and 7.7 rebounds.
South Carolina will need to address roster changes as four players are in their final year of eligibility, and two others, including Raven Johnson, may choose to forgo their final year.
