Dawn Staley is on the move! South Carolina Gamecocks’ head coach recently secured a French player who makes dunking look like child’s play. However, that’s not it. Now, Jerzy Robinson, the nation’s top shooting guard, has announced her commitment to play in Columbia.

And just hours after Robinson made the announcement, former South Carolina star and three-time WNBA champion A’ja Wilson delivered a heartfelt message welcoming the guard into the program.

“Welcome to the Gamecocks family! You made the best choice. There is no place like Columbia,” Wilson said, as per a video aired by ESPN.

“And if I can give you any piece of advice, I would say – be on time. Set your alarm, AM, PM, whatever you do, be on time and make sure you are always on time…But I’m so excited to watch you grow as a person and as a player and take the next step in your journey. Enjoy every moment, every minute, and before you know it, I’ll be seeing you in the big league. You ready? I know you are! Go Gamecocks!”

The No. 1 shooting guard and No. 3 overall prospect in the nation according to 247Sports, officially chose to play under the guidance of coach Staley on Tuesday, over programs like LSU and UConn. The 6-foot-0 Sierra Canyon standout revealed her decision live on ESPN, calling Columbia “home” and describing the program as a place of peace.

And well, the hints had always been there.

Robinson made her trip to South Carolina the weekend of October 24 and packed a lot into a few days. She was also in the building for South Carolina’s exhibition game against Anderson, sitting right behind the Gamecock bench. The crowd made sure she felt the love, too, breaking into “We want Jerzy” chants during the game.

Robinson was joined by Kaeli Wynn, who was on her second visit to campus after taking her official visit back on September 5. Wynn later committed to South Carolina on November 10. Former South Carolina Gamecocks stars Allisha Gray and Te-Hina Paopao were also in attendance. Paopao also hosted a meet-and-greet before tipoff, and she and Robinson share Samoan heritage.

Robinson then went on to spend time with A’ja Wilson, who was in town for her induction into the Lettermen’s Hall of Fame, before heading to the homecoming football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. She watched the game alongside Tessa Johnson and other Gamecock players, cheering from the stands and waving a rally towel right along with the crowd during “Sandstorm.”

It’s also worth noting that multiple reports have mentioned Robinson forming a strong bond with South Carolina assistant coach Wendale Farrow during his time at Southern Cal.

Originally, Jerzy Robinson is from Phoenix, where she won a state championship at Desert Vista before transferring to Sierra Canyon in 2023, where, as a Junior, she averaged 26.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.1 steals, earning MaxPreps First-Team All-American honors.

As the highest-ranked recruit Staley has landed since Joyce Edwards, who was No.3 in the class of 2023, Robinson also signed an endorsement deal with Nike and is represented by Klutch Sports, the same agency that represents several current and former South Carolina players, including Wilson herself.

And with her addition to the Gamecocks’ class of 2026, Dawn Staley’s program future is looking bright as ever. So far, the players who have committed to this team are:

• No. 5 Jerzy Robinson
• Alicia Tournebize, a 6-foot-7 star from France
• No. 17 Kaeli Wynn
• No. 18 Kelsi Andrews

This also marks the third straight year South Carolina has landed a top-five recruit.

In the 2025-26 NCAA season, the South Carolina Gamecocks are already dominating the tournament, but with these additions, they will turn into one of the deadliest teams in the league.

What will Dawn Staley’s South Carolina look like in 2026–27 with Jerzy Robinson?

The Gamecocks, ranked No. 3, currently sit at 12-1 in the ongoing season, where their only loss so far came against the No.2 Texas Longhorns. However, Dawn Staley is expected to be without Ta’Niya Latson, Raven Johnson, and Maryam Dauda in the next season, which would create immediate holes across the backcourt and frontcourt.

Center Madina Okot is also set to exhaust her eligibility, though Staley has publicly stated the program plans to fight for an additional year for Okot, who played in Kenya before arriving in the United States.

On the other hand, Ashlyn Watkins announced in July that she plans to return for her senior season in 2026–27, which would provide the team continuity, athleticism, and defensive versatility in the frontcourt. Chloe Kitts, meanwhile, will face one of the program’s biggest swing decisions, where she has to choose between returning for another season or declaring for the 2026 WNBA Draft after missing the current year due to an ACL tear.

That uncertainty is precisely why the arrival of Jerzy Robinson, Wynn, Tournebize, and Andrews matters so much. With elite scorers and playmakers already secured, Staley is positioning South Carolina to absorb outgoing talent without taking a step back competitively.