South Carolina received its first commitment for the Class of 2025 on Thursday. Ayla McDowell, a five-star prospect, committed to Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks during a ceremony at her school. “I loved everything,” McDowell said of South Carolina in an interview with VYPE Magazine following her announcement. “One thing is vital to me: I need to be happy wherever I go. I felt delighted there. I was surrounded by excellent teammates and coaches. I felt at ease, and I really enjoyed my time there. McDowell attended Cypress Hill High School in Texas and was the 20th-ranked player in the country according to ESPN’s HoopGurlz rankings.
McDowell can join with USC on November 15, the first day of basketball’s signing period. The 6-foot-2 McDowell chose USC over Georgia Tech, Florida, TCU, LSU, and Mississippi State.
She paid her official visit to USC earlier this month and stated that it would be her final visit. During her visit, she was seen attending the Gamecocks’ home football game versus Ole Miss on October 5. McDowell also went to Texas A&M, Houston, and Baylor. McDowell averaged 19.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 2.4 assists as a junior last season, propelling Cypress Hill High School to a 30-3 record and a spot in the third round of the playoffs.
McDowell played for CyFair Elite this summer, helping them win the championship on the NIKE EYBL AAU circuit. She also represented Brazil in the AmeriCup Women’s 18U Championship, averaging 14.8 points and 7.7 rebounds. South Carolina will have significant voids to fill, with four players in their final year of eligibility and two more, including Raven Johnson, perhaps bypassing her final year at USC.
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