The South Carolina Gamecocks on Wednesday announced the official signing of Saniya Rivers, the third recruit in the 2021 Hoop Gurlz class.
Rivers, a 6-foot playmaker from Wilmington, NC, won the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of North Carolina in 2019 and 2020. She averaged 25 points, 11.7 rebounds, 6.3 steals and 4 , 2 assists per game as a junior in high school.
Here’s what South Carolina’s head coach Dawn Staley said about the final recruit to sign for her 2021 class:
From the first time I saw Saniya play, I was hooked. I’ve seen her play in so many positions, so her versatility is what jumps off the page. She has a jump shot; it can reach the basket; she can shoot Stephen Curry 3s; she has a tremendous view of the court and is very altruistic, almost exaggerated. It doesn’t stop there. Her ability to defend, to compete – she wants to win the battle on both sides of the ball, and we love that about her.
Rivers’ hiring comes six days after South Carolina officially announces the hiring of Atlanta’s Raven Johnson, who is the second recruit in 2021, only behind Azzi Fudd (UConn).
Johnson is a five-foot-tall playmaker who won three state championships at Westlake High School and was named Miss Basketball of Georgia in 2020.
Here’s Staley in the best player in her 2021 signing class:
Raven is the definitive owner. She is a two-way player in her presence on both sides of the track as the main guard, understanding where everyone needs to be and without fear and without remorse about telling people where they need to be. We couldn’t ask for a better owner, and she is just scratching the surface. Your work ethic will definitely set you apart from everyone else. When I saw her play, she left her mark on the defense. She takes no prisoners and is not afraid to accept a challenge.
In addition to Rivers and Johnson, No. 14 recruits Bree Hall (a 5-foot-11 guard from Ohio) signed with South Carolina on November 11 and No. 4 recruits Sania Feagin (a 1.80-meter forward from Georgia) sang with the program on November 12th.
Other news from 11 November (National Signature Day)
Hoop Gurlz Number 1 recruits Azzi Fudd from Washington, DC, committed to UConn Huskies on ESPN Instagram Live on November 11.
Fudd was one of the few recruits in 2021 who remained undecided until National Signature Day.
Not only did UConn now have recruit # 1 from 2020 in Paige Bueckers and 2021 in Fudd, the Huskies also added recruit # 5 from 2021, Caroline Ducharme, a 5-foot-10 guard. Combined with the 5-foot-11 Bueckers and Fudd guards, the Huskies have a very solid future defense court.
To complete his 2021 hiring class, UConn also hired recruit No. 15 Amari DeBerry, a six-foot striker, and recruit No. 30 Saylor Poffenbarger, a six-foot guard.
The North Carolina Tar Heels brought in highly rated recruit Deja Kelly for the 2020-21 season and on November 11 signed four of the 20 best candidates in the 2021 class: Teonni Key (No. 9), Shipowner Kayla McPherson (No. 17), 1.80 m guard, Morasha Wiggins (nº 18) and Destiny Adams wing (nº 20), 1.8 m.
Key remains in his home state of North Carolina, but the Heels did a great job attracting players from all over the country: McPherson from Georgia, Wiggins from Michigan and Adams from New Jersey.
USC Trojans, which have the country’s No. 7 recruiting class, were happy to announce the hiring of recruits No. 21 and 27, Clarice Akunwafo and Rayah Marshall, respectively. Akunwafo is six feet tall and the second best in its class. Marshall is a six-foot guard and she and Akunwafo are from California.
Maryland was one of the last four teams that Fudd considered, demonstrating that sea turtles are still on the radar of the country’s best players. Although Fudd chose UConn, the Terps still welcome recruit number 22, Shyanne Sellers, a six-foot guard from Ohio. On November 11, they also hired Emma Chardon, a six-foot-tall wing from Switzerland who has a lot of professional basketball experience.
Another perennial powerhouse, NC State Wolfpack, welcomes recruit No. 36 Aziaha James, a six-foot guard from Virginia. They also hired Sophie Hart, from Minnesota, fifth in the category.
Joining a growing Arizona Wildcats program are recruit number 71 and home state star Madison Conner and recruit number 100 Aaronette Vonleh from Oregon.
Elsewhere, head coach Kim Mulkey has been working her magic on Waco. The new Lady Bear Maryam Dauda will follow a long line of successful positions in Baylor. The 1.80 m Dauda is the 13th general recruit and the No. 1 player in the country.
Mississippi Bulldogs, meanwhile, welcome two guards into their program as they seek to build the newly started Nikki McCray-Penson era. KN’isha Godfrey, candidate # 40 and owner # 8, is heading to Florida’s “Stark Vegas”, while Private Jasmine Shavers, recruit # 55, will be arriving from Texas. Mississippi also hired Mia Moore on November 11.
The Iowa Hawkeyes grabbed Caitlin Clark, recruit # 4 for 2020, and on November 11 signed recruit # 39 of 2021, AJ Ediger, a six-foot forward from Michigan, and recruit # 92 Addison O’Grady, a 1.80 m pole from Colorado. The Hawkeyes also added Sydney Affolter, a 5-foot-11 guard from Chicago.
Tennessee Lady Volunteers hopes to make a big leap in the second year of the Kellie Harper technique. Prospectus No. 43 Sara Puckett and No. 62 Kaiya Wynn were signed today, as well as Brooklynn Miles.