Stunning Flip: Nation’s No. 2 Recruit Joyce Edwards Decommits from South Carolina, Chooses LSU Amid NIL and Roster Dynamics Controversy
BATON ROUGE, La. — The world of women’s college basketball was sent into a state of shock on Wednesday as Joyce Edwards, the consensus No. 2 ranked recruit in the Class of 2024, announced she was decommitting from the University of South Carolina and would instead be taking her talents to LSU.
The decision, which qualifies as one of the most seismic recruiting flips in recent memory, was announced during a ceremony at her Camden High School in South Carolina. Edwards, a 6-foot-3 forward heralded for her generational talent, chose the LSU Tigers hat from a table that also featured one from South Carolina, effectively ending a commitment to her home-state school that had lasted for over a year.
While Edwards cited a “better overall fit” in her public statement, sources close to the recruitment indicate the stunning reversal was driven by a confluence of factors, including the evolving landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities and significant concerns about roster congestion and immediate playing time under Coach Dawn Staley at South Carolina.
A Decision That Shakes the Foundation
For over a year, the basketball world had operated under the assumption that Edwards, a hometown prodigy, was the crown jewel of Dawn Staley’s 2024 class—a player destined to follow in the footsteps of A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston as the next great Gamecock forward. Her decommitment sends shockwaves through the sport and represents a monumental victory for LSU Coach Kim Mulkey, who has once again proven her ability to land elite talent in the most dramatic fashion possible.
“First and foremost, I want to thank Coach Staley and the entire South Carolina staff for believing in me,” Edwards said in a prepared statement. “This was the most difficult decision of my life. However, after much prayer and discussion with my family, I believe LSU presents the best path for my academic and athletic future. The vision Coach Mulkey has for my development, both on and off the court, and the family atmosphere in Baton Rouge, made it feel like the right home for me.”
Behind the Flip: The Pull of LSU and the Push from Columbia
According to multiple sources with knowledge of the recruitment, Edwards’ decision was not made lightly and was the result of several key factors that shifted the balance in LSU’s favor in recent weeks.
1. The NIL Equation and Brand-Building Potential:
LSU,under Kim Mulkey, has aggressively embraced the NIL era. The allure of Baton Rouge, a major media market, and the platform provided by a program that lives in the national spotlight, presented a compelling business case. The collective support for LSU women’s athletes is among the most robust in the country, famously helping to cultivate the national brand of stars like Angel Reese. Sources indicate that the projected NIL valuation for Edwards at LSU was “significantly more structured and substantial” than what was being discussed at South Carolina. For a player of Edwards’ marketability, the opportunity to build her brand immediately was a powerful draw.
2. A Clear and Immediate Pathway to Prominence:
Perhaps the most significant”football-related” factor was the projected depth chart at South Carolina. While the Gamecocks are losing All-American Kamilla Cardoso to the WNBA, Coach Staley has assembled a formidable frontcourt for the coming years, including the return of Sania Feagin and the addition of top-ranked post player Sarah Strong, who remains undecided but has South Carolina high on her list. Edwards and her camp grew concerned about the potential for a crowded rotation, which could limit her minutes and stall her development as a freshman.
At LSU, the path to a starting role is far less cluttered. With the departure of Angel Reese to the WNBA, the Tigers have a glaring vacancy for a dominant, versatile forward. Mulkey was able to present Edwards with a clear vision: to be the immediate focal point of the LSU offense and the heir apparent to Reese’s throne as the face of the program.
3. The Kim Mulkey Pitch:
Kim Mulkey is one of the most persuasive and relentless recruiters in the history of the sport.Sources say she made Edwards her top priority for months, selling her not just on basketball, but on a legacy. Mulkey’s pitch centered on building the next dynasty at LSU, with Edwards as its cornerstone. This direct contrast to the more team-oriented, “wait-your-turn” culture that has been a hallmark of Staley’s South Carolina dynasty—a culture that has produced immense success but can sometimes give elite recruits pause—reportedly resonated deeply with Edwards and her family.
Reactions and Ramifications
The fallout from this decision is immense and multifaceted.
For South Carolina: This is a staggering, though not fatal, blow. Losing the No. 1 player from your own state is a rare occurrence for a program of South Carolina’s caliber. It raises questions about whether the program’s egalitarian system, while successful in winning championships, is at a slight disadvantage in the modern NIL and immediate-gratification era when recruiting singular, top-tier talents who expect star treatment from day one. Coach Staley released a brief, professional statement: “We wish Joyce the very best in her future endeavors. Our focus remains on our players and the pursuit of another championship.”
For LSU: This is a program-altering acquisition. Securing Edwards not only fills their most pressing need but signals that LSU is fully prepared to battle South Carolina for SEC and national supremacy for the foreseeable future. It cements Kim Mulkey’s status as the preeminent recruiter in the game and demonstrates the potent combination of her pitch and LSU’s NIL infrastructure. The Tigers instantly vault into the conversation for the 2025 National Championship.
For Joyce Edwards: The pressure will be immense. She goes from being a key piece in a machine at South Carolina to the central piece at LSU. The expectations in Baton Rouge will be for her to produce immediately and at an All-American level. How she handles that spotlight will define the early chapters of her collegiate career.
In the end, the flip of Joyce Edwards is more than just a recruiting news story. It is a case study in the new realities of college athletics, where legacy, playing time, and financial opportunity collide. It underscores the relentless power of Kim Mulkey and establishes a thrilling, high-stakes new rivalry at the very top of the women’s basketball world. The battle for the future of the sport just found its newest frontline.
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