South Carolina women’s basketball is set to host five-star post prospect Oliviyah Edwards for an official visit beginning Tuesday, according to a report from prominent women’s basketball analyst Skim Milkey. Louisville and Washington are also understood to be involved in her recruitment. Edwards subsequently appeared to confirm the visit on her own social media platforms.
The Tennessee Connection
Edwards arrives on South Carolina’s radar following a significant change of course in her recruitment. The Washington native had previously signed a letter of intent with the Tennessee Lady Volunteers, but recently withdrew her commitment amid what has been a widespread departure of current and future roster talent from the program.
Prior to her initial pledge to Tennessee, South Carolina and LSU had both been considered frontrunners for her signature — meaning the Gamecocks are in many ways picking up where a previous recruitment left off. Edwards has already taken both an official and an unofficial visit to Columbia, so the program and the prospect are not unfamiliar territory for one another.
Her visit to South Carolina on Tuesday will be followed by a trip to Louisville on Friday.
Why the Gamecocks Need Her
The timing of South Carolina’s pursuit aligns with genuine roster need. While the Gamecocks did sign fellow post player Kelsi Andrews in the 2026 class, the two prospects represent meaningfully different player profiles. Andrews is also currently working through a knee injury rehab. Looking ahead, South Carolina has two post players set to depart at the end of this season, with two more scheduled to graduate the following year — making the frontcourt a clear area of focus for Dawn Staley’s staff heading into the next cycle.
What Edwards Brings
Edwards is widely regarded as one of the most physically gifted prospects in her class. At 6’3″ with exceptional length, she plays considerably bigger than her listed height suggests. She throws down dunks with ease and brings elite instincts as a rebounder and shot-blocker — tools that translate immediately at any level.
Her game, however, is not limited to raw athleticism. Edwards has steadily refined her jump shot, extending her reliable range out to 15 feet and demonstrating the ability to hit timely shots from beyond the arc. Defensively, her combination of length and lateral mobility allows her to guard multiple positions, making her a versatile piece on that end of the floor as well.
According to the Rivals Industry Ranking, Edwards is the fourth-ranked overall prospect in the class of 2026, the top-ranked power forward in the cycle, and the number-one player in the state of Washington. Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN all classify her as a five-star recruit and place her among the top five players nationally in her class.
