Dawn Staley Lands a True Center
- Charles Reams
- Apr 22
- 2 min read
Dawn Staley lands a 6-6 center Madina Okot from Mississippi State
COLUMBIA — Madina Okot, a 6-foot-6 center from Mississippi State committed to South Carolina women's basketball on April 21 and officially signed, the school announced April 22.
Okot posted on social media late at night on April 21, implying the news from earlier in the day was true that she had committed.
Staley wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, "A birdie just flew in the nest!!!" on April 21, which is what she says before recruitment announcements. According to social media posts, Okot was in Columbia with the Gamecocks and Staley from April 18-20.
Okot entered the transfer portal on April 4.
Okot played just one season at Mississippi State after spending two years playing for Zetech University in Kenya. As a junior, she started all 34 games and averaged 11.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.
She had 12 double-doubles. In a win over Vanderbilt, Okot had 21 points and 23 rebounds.
Against Cal in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Okot had 14 points, 13 rebounds and in the season-ending loss to Southern Cal, she had eight points, six rebounds, and two steals.
The Gamecocks were in need of a true center, as both 6-5 Adhel Tac and Sakima Walker were battling injuries and trying to get healthy enough for quality minutes. Walker entered the transfer portal on April 8.
Sania Feagin, a 6-3 forward, was selected in the WNBA draft. Although freshman Joyce Edwards will likely take her place in the starting lineup if Staley wants to go with three guards and two forwards, Okot can provide quality minutes off the bench as Tac works to get more comfortable.
Staley said she wanted someone with experience, and although Okot only spent one year in the SEC, it's a huge advantage that she's comfortable with the physicality of the conference and has knowledge of what it's like to face a lot of SEC defenses.
