Alright, if you thought South Carolina hoops recruiting was already wild, buckle up. Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks are cranking it up a notch this weekend—hosting two of the hottest 2026 prospects out there: Emily McDonald and Kaeli Wynn. Basically, it’s go-time for South Carolina; this visit kicks off a super important stretch of official looks.
Big-Time Prospects Touch Down in Columbia
Let’s talk about Emily McDonald first. She’s a 6-foot guard outta New York, and Kaeli Wynn’s a 6’2” forward from sunny Los Angeles. Both are top-50 nationwide (the recruiting sites can’t agree on the exact number, but they all love ‘em).
Kaeli Wynn: She’s ranked No. 22 by Rivals, No. 15 by ESPN, and No. 38 on 247Sports. So you get the drift—she’s a big deal. Wynn’s been doing her thing at Mater Dei in Cali (seriously, that school churns out ballers), but her season hit a bump when she dislocated her knee in January. Sucks, but she’s got the genes—her mom hooped at USC with Lisa Leslie, coached at Washington and Long Beach State, and her sister Jada’s bounced around college squads, now at UC Irvine where their dad, Derek, is on the coaching staff. Basically, basketball runs in her blood.
She’s already checked out Stanford, Texas Tech, and Michigan State (unofficially), and has a Stanford official lined up soon. On the court? She does a little bit of everything, classic coach’s kid, super high hoops IQ.
Emily McDonald: Rivals has her at No. 49, ESPN at 39, and 247Sports says 34. Point is—she’s blowing up. After tearing it up at the Power 24 Finals in Ohio this summer (her Team Northeast crew made it all the way to the title game), she snagged her South Carolina offer.
She’s now playing at Long Island Lutheran (yeah, the same school you always see deep in national tournaments), after starting out at St. Mary’s. She’s a combo guard—can run point, but probably will play off the ball in college. ESPN loves her blend of shooting and playmaking, plus she’s a loud leader, not shy at all.
As for her recruitment, she’s already visited Baylor, Kentucky, TCU, UNC, Indiana, and Wake Forest. Just last weekend, she was at Chapel Hill for her official with the Tar Heels.
Gamecocks Loading Up for 2026
Neither McDonald nor Wynn has dropped a “finalists” list yet, but with them both in Columbia, it’s clear South Carolina’s not messing around. They’ve been all over the 2026 class—already had Saniyah Hall and McKenna Woliczko on campus this summer. Hall’s in the bag (committed in July), and Woliczko’s decision is coming up soon.
Looking ahead? The Gamecocks have these official visits on the books:
Oliviyah Edwards (Sept. 19–21)
Sitaya Fagan (late September)
And there’s more—Olivia Vukosa and Aaliah Spaight are planning to swing by, but dates aren’t set yet.
With South Carolina fresh off another monster season, the energy around the program is off the charts. For McDonald and Wynn, this visit could be the start of something big—a shot to join a team that’s built a culture on stars and banners.
So yeah, if you’re a Gamecocks fan, now’s the time to start following recruiting updates like your life depends on it. Dawn Staley isn’t just building a team—she’s building another dynasty.
About the Author
