South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley is going the extra mile to support her new recruit, Agot Makeer. The 18-year-old is currently playing for the Canadian national team in the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup, which runs from July 12 to 20 in Brno, Czech Republic.
On Tuesday, July 15, Staley revealed on her X handle that she flew all the way to Europe to watch Makeer and the rest of her team battle in the international basketball tournament. The tenured tactician uploaded a photo of herself, Makeer, and a few others, and accompanied it with a caption, urging Gamecocks faithful to show support for Makeer and her U19 World Cup campaign.
“Send your @GamecockWBB love to @makeer_agot and family here in Czech Republic!! Got the dub today!,” Dawn Staley wrote on X with a Canadian flag emoji.
Staley’s post came amid the celebration of a victory on the same day, as Makeer and her squad defeated the South Korean national team in the round of 16 by 12 points, 70-58. In that game, Makeer scored 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting, seven rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 25 minutes of action.
Staley and the Gamecocks may be rejoicing over the fact that Makeer and the Canadian team have moved into the quarterfinals. On Thursday, July 17, they will take on the Japanese national team to fight for a place in the semifinals.
When Dawn Staley Said Agot Makeer’s Potential is Unlimited
On April 24 of this year, when Agot Makeer officially signed with the South Carolina Gamecocks, coach Dawn Staley let out a statement through the team’s official website that shows her excitement regarding the huge offseason recruitment for the Gamecocks’ 2025-26 roster. Along with this, Staley did not mince words on the praise she gave Makeer and the potential she possesses.
“We’re excited to bring Agot into our Gamecock family. She brings size, speed and versatility to our guard unit with her ability to play multiple positions. Her ball handling and passing skills enhance her ability to score and spread the defense. Agot is super competitive, talented and has an unlimited ceiling,” Staley was quoted as saying.
Staley, Makeer, and the rest of the Gamecocks now head into next season as once again one of the powerhouse programs of women’s college basketball. South Carolina looks to win its third national championship in the last five years after they had their 2024 national title defense foiled in this year’s NCAA tournament by the UConn Huskies with a 23-point loss, 82-59, in the winner-take-all game.
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