Joyce Edwards Explained

Joyce Edwards
Team:Camden High School
Position:Forward
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Birth Date:30 January 2006
Birth Place:Camden, South Carolina, U.S.
High School:
College:South Carolina (commit)
Highlights:

Joyce Edwards (born January 30, 2006) is an American basketball player who attends Camden High School. Committed to South Carolina, she is a five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class.

High school career

Edwards attended Camden High School. During her junior year she averaged 28.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.9 assists and led Camden to the 3A state championship. Following the season she was named South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year.[1]

During her senior year she averaged 31.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.5 steals, 3.3 blocks and four assists per game and led Camden to their second consecutive 3A state championship.[2] Following the season she was named South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and Gatorade National Player of the Year.[3] [4] She was also named Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year.[5]

Edwards played in the 2024 McDonald's All-American Girls Game, where she scored a game-high 19 points and was named co-MVP along with Sarah Strong.[6] [7] [8] She competed at the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit, where she led Team USA with 25 points, nine rebounds, and five steals.[9] She scored 17 points in the second half, helping lead team USA to a comeback victory over the world team.[10] She then competed at the 2024 Jordan Brand Classic, where she scored a game-high 25 points, seven rebounds, two assists, six steals and two blocks, and was named MVP.[11]

Recruiting

Edwards was considered a five-star recruit and the number two player in the 2024 class, according to ESPN.[12] On November 15, 2023, she signed her National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play college basketball at South Carolina, over offers from LSU and Clemson.[13] She was the highest-rated player from South Carolina since A'ja Wilson was No. 1 in 2014.[14]

National team career

Edwards represented the United States at the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup, where she was the youngest member on the roster.[15] During the tournament she averaged 12.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in seven games. She was named to the all-tournament team after helping the United States win a gold medal.[16] [17]

On May 19, 2024, Edwards was named to team USA's roster for the 2024 FIBA Under-18 Women's AmeriCup.[18] During the tournament she led team USA in scoring, and ranked fourth overall in the tournament, with 14.2 points per game. She also averaged 7.2 rebounds and 2 steals in six games. During the final against Canada she recorded 16 points, a team-high 13 rebounds and five steals for her second double-double of the tournament to help the United States win a gold medal. She was subsequently named tournament MVP.[19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Camden standout, Gamecocks target earns SC’s top girls basketball honor for 2023 . . Lou . Bezjak . March 8, 2023 . April 2, 2024.
  2. Web site: Gamecock Signee Edwards Gatorade National Player of the Year . gamecocksonline.com . March 28, 2024 . April 2, 2024.
  3. Web site: Joyce Edwards wins SC Gatorade Player of the Year, named finalist for national award . . Payton . Titus . March 14, 2024 . April 2, 2024.
  4. Web site: Joyce Edwards, South Carolina women's basketball signee, wins national Gatorade Player of the Year award . . Evan . Gerike . March 28, 2024 . April 2, 2024.
  5. Web site: McDonald's All American Games Selects Joyce Edwards and Dylan Harper as the 2024 Morgan Wootten National Players of the Year . prnewswire.com . April 1, 2024 . April 2, 2024.
  6. Web site: South Carolina signee Joyce Edwards ready for McDonald’s All-American game moment . . Lou . Bezjak . April 2, 2024 . April 2, 2024.
  7. Web site: Top recruits Sarah Strong, Joyce Edwards lead East over West in McDonald's girls' basketball game . . April 2, 2024 . April 2, 2024.
  8. Web site: Joyce Edwards leading East to victory with 19 among five takeaways from McDonald's All American Game . . Aaron . Williams . April 2, 2024 . April 2, 2024.
  9. Web site: FIBA youth stars light it up in thrilling Women's Nike Hoop Summit 2024 contest . fiba.basketball . April 15, 2024 . April 15, 2024.
  10. Web site: Joyce Edwards Wants to Keep Improving . usab.com . Josie . Gross-Whitaker . April 19, 2024 . April 19, 2024.
  11. Web site: South Carolina Basketball: Gamecock signee wins ANOTHER all-star game MVP . garnetandcocky.com . Kevin . Miller . April 22, 2024 . April 22, 2024.
  12. Web site: No. 2 prospect Joyce Edwards commits to South Carolina basketball over LSU, Clemson . . Emily . Adams . November 15, 2023 . April 2, 2024.
  13. Web site: Prized LSU women's basketball 2024 recruit Joyce Edwards commits to South Carolina . . Cory . Diaz . November 15, 2023 . April 2, 2024.
  14. Web site: What Dawn Staley said about South Carolina women's basketball signing Maddy McDaniel, Adhel Tac . . Emily . Adams . November 9, 2023 . April 2, 2024.
  15. Web site: USA Basketball Women’s U19 National Team Announced . usab.com . May 15, 2023 . April 2, 2024.
  16. Web site: Joyce Edwards . usab.com . April 2, 2024.
  17. Web site: Lanie Grant and Joyce Edwards Have Had a Golden Year and They’re Just Getting Started . usab.com . August 11, 2023 . April 2, 2024.
  18. Web site: Joyce Edwards Named to USA U18 National Team . gamecocksonline.com . May 19, 2024 . May 19, 2024.
  19. Web site: Edwards Leads U.S. to FIBA U18 AmeriCup Gold . gamecocksonline.com . June 23, 2024 . June 23, 2024.