"I felt safe when talking to her": MiLaysia Fulwiley reveals Dawn Staley's recruitment strategy to get her "generational" talent to South Carolina

MiLaysia Fulwiley, a five-star recruit in the 2023 class, explained Dawn Staley's recruitment strategy for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Regarded as a generational talent, Fulwiley was ranked No. 13 overall in ESPN's HoopGurlz rankings.

In a YouTube video posted by the school on Monday focused on the Columbia, SC native's college journey, Fulwiley spoke about her experience being recruited by Staley and the Gamecocks. She revealed the coach's unique approach that convinced her to commit to South Carolina.

"I really enjoyed all of my visits, but Dawn wasn’t giving me any false narratives, like saying, 'Oh yeah, you’re going to do this, you’re going to do that,'" MiLaysia said (0:58). "No, she just said, 'We have what you need here. If you want to go to the WNBA, we have all the tools. You just work hard, and I see you being a generational player.'"

"She told me that she believed in me, and I felt safe when talking to her. It felt like home, for real."

The move to South Carolina might look ideal on paper, given the Gamecocks' sustained excellence under Staley. However, MiLaysia Fulwiley has started just three games since her debut in November last year.

Some fans have even criticized Dawn Staley for not utilizing the highly touted player and have called for Fulwiley to transfer out of the program.

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MiLaysia Fulwiley and South Carolina get 12th win of the season

Although MiLaysia Fulwiley hasn't cracked the starting lineup for the Gamecocks, she has contributed as a key bench player this season. The No. 2 South Carolina beat Wofford 93-47 on Sunday, improving to 12-1.

Fulwiley had 11 points, five assists and two rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench. She looked comfortable on the floor, knocking down three 3-pointers in the rout. Joyce Edwards, a 6-foot-3 freshman forward, led the Gamecocks in scoring with 16 points, while also adding four rebounds and three assists.

Despite the limited playing time, MiLaysia Fulwiley has proven numerous times that she can make an impact when she's on the court. She's averaging 10.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

Coach Dawn Staley remains optimistic about Fulwiley's development and believes that Fulwiley will continue to earn more minutes as she progresses.

She had her best performance of the season against Coppin State on Nov. 14, scoring 23 points in 25 minutes. Fulwiley delivered another standout performance against No. 11 TCU on Dec. 8, tallying 20 points.