Story by
Aiken Standard, S.C.
Gamecock women picked first in SEC preseason poll; Gamecock men picked last
- Story byAiken Standard, S.C.
- Gamecock women picked first in SEC preseason poll; Gamecock men picked last
Oct. 12—COLUMBIA — C'mon, who else were they gonna pick?
South Carolina, winner of the last five SEC regular-season championships, was tabbed to bring home a sixth in the SEC's preseason media poll released on Monday. The Gamecocks have the deepest and most talented roster in the league, returning the bulk of a squad that won the title last year and went on to play in its third straight national championship game.
Advertisement
Forward Joyce Edwards, guard Tessa Johnson and forward Chloe Kitts were named to the preseason All-SEC squad, Edwards earning first-team honors.
Edwards picked up one vote for Preseason SEC Player of the Year. Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes received the most votes after averaging over 30 points per league game last year.
If the Gamecocks take the crown, it will be their 11th overall. They've won their previous 10 over 13 seasons.
USC was a unanimous selection to win the league in USA Today's preseason poll, with Edwards also an SEC first-teamer. Johnson and Kitts made the second team — along with LSU's MiLaysia Fulwiley and Ole Miss' Talaysia Cooper, who each began their careers at USC.
Advertisement
It's not nearly the end of the preseason hoopla, by a long shot. The first Associated Press Top 25 poll of the season will be released at noon on Oct. 20, and the Gamecocks are a heavy favorite to be ranked No. 1.
Coach Dawn Staley, Edwards, Kitts and Jordan Lee will represent USC at SEC Tipoff on Tuesday. The Gamecock men will be repped by coach Lamont Paris and players Cam Heide, Kory Mincy and Jakub Necas.
Predicted order of finish
1. South Carolina
2. Texas
3. LSU
4. Vanderbilt
5. Kentucky
6. Oklahoma
7. Ole Miss
8. Tennessee
9. Mississippi State
10. Alabama
11. Texas A&M
12. Florida
13. Georgia
14. Missouri
Advertisement
15. Auburn
16. Arkansas
Preseason Player of the Year
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Preseason First-Team All-SEC
Madison Booker, Texas
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
Clara Strack, Kentucky
Mikaylah Williams, LSU
Preseason Second-Team All-SEC
Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma
Talaysia Cooper, Ole Miss
MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU
Tessa Johnson, South Carolina
Chloe Kitts, South Carolina
Gamecock men picked last
The USC men were picked in a familiar spot in the preseason media poll: Dead last.
It was only a slight surprise. USC has finished last and next-to-last in the last two seasons. But some figured the Gamecocks would at least be picked higher than LSU, which has yet to release a full, eligible roster.
Advertisement
It's a pivotal year for Paris, who was given a vote of confidence by athletic director Jeremiah Donati last season, Paris' second stinker in a row after a 26-win 2023-24 season. It's basically a brand-new roster, like it was last season.
Predicted order of finish
1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Arkansas
4. Tennessee
5. Alabama
6. Vanderbilt
7. Kentucky
8. Missouri
9. Texas A&M
10. Auburn
11. Georgia
12. Oklahoma
13. Ole Miss
14. LSU
15. Mississippi State
16. South Carolina
Preseason Player of the Year
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Preseason First-Team All-SEC
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
Juke Harris, Tennessee
Advertisement
Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
Preseason Second-Team All-SEC
Amari Allen, Alabama
Alex Condon, Florida
Milan Momcilovic, Kentucky
Jordan Smith, Arkansas
Matas Vokietaitis, Texas
Preseason Third-Team All-SEC
P.J. Haggerty, Texas A&M
Malachi Moreno, Kentucky
Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn
David Punch, Texas
Billy Richmond, Arkansas
Follow David Cloninger on X @DCPandC. Want the latest updates on Gamecock athletics sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to Gamecocks Now!
