South Carolina signee Joyce Edwards ready for McDonald’s All-American game moment
Joyce Edwards is living out a childhood dream this week.
The Camden High standout and South Carolina signee is taking part in the McDonald’s All-American Game, which takes place Tuesday in Houston and features 24 of the top senior girls basketball players from across the country.
“It is a dream to be here. It is every basketball player’s dream to be here,” Edwards said at the game’s media day on Monday. “I’m just trying to soak it all in while I can. And I want to get better as camp moves forward because iron sharpens iron.”
Before Edwards’ press conference on Monday, the future Gamecock picked up another national honor as she was named the Morgan Wooten Girls National Player of the Year. Rutgers signee Dylan Harper won the boys honor.
Edwards, the No. 2 ranked player in the Class of 2024, was named the Gatorade Girls National Player of the Year last week in a surprise announcement of her school. She averaged 31.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.5 steals, 4 assists and 3.3 blocks this season in helping Camden to its second straight state championship.
It is the third straight year the Midlands will be represented in the nation’s top all-star game. Cardinal Newman’s Ashlyn Watkins played in the 2022 game and won the slam dunk contest. Keenan’s MiLaysia Fulwiley was in last year’s contest.
Both Watkins and Fulwiley are at South Carolina where Edwards will be next season. The Gamecocks are the No. 1 team in the country and advanced to their fourth straight Final Four on Sunday.USC will play N.C. State on Friday in Cleveland.
The Gamecocks currently have eight McDonald’s All-Americans on the roster including Watkins, Fulwiley, Te-Hina Paopao, Tessa Johnson, Kamilla Cardoso, Sania Feagin, Bree Hall and Raven Johnson.
Edwards said this week will help prepare her for what she will go against in college.
“A lot of people will see it as intimidating. They are undefeated and have a lot of McDonald’s All-Americans,” Edwards said. “You might be worried about playing time and that does cross your mind occasionally but there is no other place to get better. I am going against the top athletes during practice every day. The growth is what I am looking forward to the most.”
Edwards is one of two future Gamecocks selected for this year’s game. The other is Madisen McDaniel from Bishop McNamara High School in Maryland.
McDaniel won’t be able to play in the game after tearing a meniscus in February but is a part of the festivities.
“I am excited to get to the court with her this summer,” McDaniel said of Edwards.
Both Edwards and McDaniel talked glowingly about the Gamecocks’ program and how vital coach Dawn Staley was during their recruiting process.
Like Staley, McDaniel is a point guard and is looking to learn from her coach. She is the second-ranked point guard in the Class of 2024 behind Ohio State signee Jaloni Cambridge.
McDaniel also is ready to go against a stacked point guard room with the likes of Raven Johnson and Fulwiley.
“I’m going to school with other guards but no disrespect they have to lace up their shoes just like I do,” she said.
HOW TO WATCH MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICAN GAME
What: 2024 McDonald’s Boys and Girls All-American games
When: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. (Girls), 9 p.m. (Boys)
TV/Stream: Girls game will be on ESPN2 and boys on ESPN. Both games can be streamed on ESPN app or Watch ESPN.
