Katie Dozier
Jatarie White choosing South Carolina puts the Gamecocks 2014 class in hyperdrive. *Photo by Ty Freeman.
One of the few remaining big pieces in the 2014 recruiting class came off the board this weekend when No. 14 Jatarie White committed to South Carolina. The 6-foot-4 post from Charlotte, N.C., made her commitment just a week after making her official campus visit.
White is the second top 20 player to commit to the Gamecocks this fall, joining electric point guard Bianca Cuevas of Brooklyn, N.Y., who is ranked 18th in the ELITE 150.
In all Dawn Staley has secured four verbal commitments in the 2014 class with White and Cuevas joining No. 105 Doniyah Cliney, a 5-11 guard from Newark, N.J., and in-state star Kaydra Ducket, a four-star 5-10 guard from Columbia, S.C.
In White the Gamecocks have arguably the most notable and talented post player in Staleys era since Kelsey Bones freshman year. But what is perhaps more impressive is White will come in to a roster with some post depth already as she will play one year with current junior Elem Ibiam and three seasons with Alaina Coates, who was ranked 28th by ProspectsNation.com last year.
This likely wraps up South Carolinas recruiting haul for this weeks early signing period, however, the program remains in the mix for No. 2 Aja Wilson, a 6-3 forward from Hopkins, S.C.
Anigwe Goes Pac-12
Kristine Anigwe of Phoenix, Ariz., joined the fall commitment craze, as the four-star junior committed to Cal this weekend. The 6-4 junior at Desert Vista High School (Phoenix, Ariz.) is the first commit for the Golden Bears in the 2015 class and fits the mold of the posts coach Lindsay Gottlieb has had success with, with size and physicality.
The timing is good for Cal as Gennifer Brandon is a senior this season and three interior players, Kyra Dunn, Reshanda Gray and Justine Hartman are all juniors. The Bears have two 2014 player committed No. 9 Gabby Green, a 6-1 guard from Oakland, Calif., and No. 20 Mikayla Cowling, a 6-1 wing-forward from Benicia, Calif. The team is also a finalist for No. 32 Kristen Simon, a 6-2 post from Los Angeles, Calif.
AROUND THE RIM
Walker To Coastal: Coastal Carolina landed a commitment from Tia Walker of Atlanta, Ga. The 6-3 post played her summer ball with the Georgia Hoopstars, earning a three-star rating from ProspetsNation.com.
St. Joes Scores Two: Last week was great for St. Josephs on the recruiting front. The Hawks landed a commitment from Adashia Franklyn, a 6-2 post from Westtown, Pa., the programs third player in the class. St. Joes also dipped into 2015, scoring a verbal from Alyssa Monaghan, the 5-5 point guard from Drexel Hill, Pa.
Dozier Picks Southern Miss: Southern Mississippi received a verbal commitment last week from Katie Dozier, 5-5 point guard from Marietta, Ga. The two-star prospect is the third player to commit to the program in the 2014 class. Follow @ChrisHansenPSB
