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COLUMBIA — This season is Chloe Kitts' long-awaited return from injury.
That's also the case for Ashlyn Watkins.
But it's also star Joyce Edwards' junior season.
And now Dawn Staley has three incoming freshman forwards, highlighted by the No. 3 ranked recruit in Oliviyah Edwards.
South Carolina also still has Alicia Tournebize, the 6-foot-7 player from France who hasn't yet played a full season yet.
But what about Adhel Tac, a 6-foot-5 forward who is now a redshirt junior and was sidelined with an injury for the last 15 games?
South Carolina women's basketball's roster is 15-deep, the most since 2021-22, and the frontcourt is especially crowded.
Kitts was a starter before she went down with an ACL tear in October. Watkins was a rebounding machine before suffering her own ACL tear and then sitting out last season. Joyce Edwards went from 12.7 points a game as a freshman to 19.2 in Year 2.
One year ago, all three were expected to carry the load, but by the season opener, Staley only had Edwards.
It's not a surprise or a knock on Tac that Staley reloaded with more depth, but how does Tac find some time on the floor?
A critical element to Tac's lack of playing time so far is her own injury history.
She missed her junior high school season with a foot injury then shortly into her senior year, she suffered a season-ending knee injury. She graduated early and joined the Gamecocks in January 2024.
South Carolina went on to win the national championship that season and after watching from the sidelines, Tac made her debut in 2024-25. Midway through the season, Tac said the process of learning to trust her body was rough.
She was playing behind Kitts and Sania Feagin, so she wasn't getting consistent minutes that allowed her to get into a rhythm. She averaged 3.8 minutes, 1.6 points and 1.6 rebounds that season.
This past season was her chance to build up some minutes, and she averaged 11.8 and 3.1 points across the first 18 games . Right as SEC play started heating up, she had a nasal injury that kept her out of one game. She returned but wore a mask, and then played what turned out to be her final game of the season on Feb. 5 vs Mississippi State.
She wore a boot on her left foot and used a medical scooter for most of the rest of the season. Staley called it a "lower leg injury."
In seven of the 15 games Tac missed, the Gamecocks won by no less than 23 points and in their NCAA Tournament opener, won by 69. Tac likely would have gotten solid minutes if she was healthy and that could have done wonders for her heading into the fall.
She finished the season with an average of 11.2 minutes, 3.1 points and 3.4 rebounds.
Tac likes to play with her back to the basket and has a decent turnaround hook shot. Her length is disruptive in the post but on both ends, there are places to make big leaps.
She can finish better through contact and improve free throw shooting. She averaged the fifth-most attempts but shot the second-worst on the team at 53.7%. Drawing fouls is the first step but converting them is an easy way to stay on the floor.
In six games where she played 15-plus minutes she averaged 1.2 points on 2.5 attempts. With her height advantage, that number should be higher given how most of her shots are layups.
Tournebize and Oliviyah Edwards have the upper hand because they're more comfortable playing outside but there's still a need for a true center. Without Madina Okot (6-foot-6), Tac can play a more traditional five spot and separate herself from some of the other posts who prefer to play farther outside the paint.
Tac will play behind Kitts, Watkins and Joyce Edwards, but she has an advantage over others on the bench.
"A voice I hear all the time is Adhel's," Staley said. "If you watch her on the floor, she's always talking loudly. She sees, she's aware of everything ... you know what she's doing when you're playing with her and that is a luxury. If you watch her, listen to her, you know what's going on. She keeps us organized."
Tac made use of her injuries or lack of minutes by taking on that coaching role, but she is undeniably more valuable if she's able to bring the voice from the sideline to the court. Especially with veteran point guard Raven Johnson now in the WNBA, there's going to have to be a new player who brings that calming presence on the floor.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Can Adhel Tac be productive for Dawn Staley, South Carolina?
Continue reading...
That's also the case for Ashlyn Watkins.
But it's also star Joyce Edwards' junior season.
And now Dawn Staley has three incoming freshman forwards, highlighted by the No. 3 ranked recruit in Oliviyah Edwards.
South Carolina also still has Alicia Tournebize, the 6-foot-7 player from France who hasn't yet played a full season yet.
But what about Adhel Tac, a 6-foot-5 forward who is now a redshirt junior and was sidelined with an injury for the last 15 games?
South Carolina women's basketball's roster is 15-deep, the most since 2021-22, and the frontcourt is especially crowded.
Kitts was a starter before she went down with an ACL tear in October. Watkins was a rebounding machine before suffering her own ACL tear and then sitting out last season. Joyce Edwards went from 12.7 points a game as a freshman to 19.2 in Year 2.
One year ago, all three were expected to carry the load, but by the season opener, Staley only had Edwards.
It's not a surprise or a knock on Tac that Staley reloaded with more depth, but how does Tac find some time on the floor?
Adhel Tac hampered by injuries in recent years
A critical element to Tac's lack of playing time so far is her own injury history.
She missed her junior high school season with a foot injury then shortly into her senior year, she suffered a season-ending knee injury. She graduated early and joined the Gamecocks in January 2024.
South Carolina went on to win the national championship that season and after watching from the sidelines, Tac made her debut in 2024-25. Midway through the season, Tac said the process of learning to trust her body was rough.
She was playing behind Kitts and Sania Feagin, so she wasn't getting consistent minutes that allowed her to get into a rhythm. She averaged 3.8 minutes, 1.6 points and 1.6 rebounds that season.
This past season was her chance to build up some minutes, and she averaged 11.8 and 3.1 points across the first 18 games . Right as SEC play started heating up, she had a nasal injury that kept her out of one game. She returned but wore a mask, and then played what turned out to be her final game of the season on Feb. 5 vs Mississippi State.
She wore a boot on her left foot and used a medical scooter for most of the rest of the season. Staley called it a "lower leg injury."
In seven of the 15 games Tac missed, the Gamecocks won by no less than 23 points and in their NCAA Tournament opener, won by 69. Tac likely would have gotten solid minutes if she was healthy and that could have done wonders for her heading into the fall.
She finished the season with an average of 11.2 minutes, 3.1 points and 3.4 rebounds.
Where can Adhel Tac improve
Tac likes to play with her back to the basket and has a decent turnaround hook shot. Her length is disruptive in the post but on both ends, there are places to make big leaps.
She can finish better through contact and improve free throw shooting. She averaged the fifth-most attempts but shot the second-worst on the team at 53.7%. Drawing fouls is the first step but converting them is an easy way to stay on the floor.
In six games where she played 15-plus minutes she averaged 1.2 points on 2.5 attempts. With her height advantage, that number should be higher given how most of her shots are layups.
Tournebize and Oliviyah Edwards have the upper hand because they're more comfortable playing outside but there's still a need for a true center. Without Madina Okot (6-foot-6), Tac can play a more traditional five spot and separate herself from some of the other posts who prefer to play farther outside the paint.
Adhel Tac's vocal leadership is needed on court
Tac will play behind Kitts, Watkins and Joyce Edwards, but she has an advantage over others on the bench.
"A voice I hear all the time is Adhel's," Staley said. "If you watch her on the floor, she's always talking loudly. She sees, she's aware of everything ... you know what she's doing when you're playing with her and that is a luxury. If you watch her, listen to her, you know what's going on. She keeps us organized."
Tac made use of her injuries or lack of minutes by taking on that coaching role, but she is undeniably more valuable if she's able to bring the voice from the sideline to the court. Especially with veteran point guard Raven Johnson now in the WNBA, there's going to have to be a new player who brings that calming presence on the floor.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Can Adhel Tac be productive for Dawn Staley, South Carolina?
Continue reading...
