Te-Hina Paopao’s coronary heart was set on transferring to TCU.
After Oregon missed the 2023 NCAA Event, she entered the switch portal as a junior in search of change. Mark Campbell, a former Geese assistant and the brand new Horned Frogs coach, had recruited Paopao to Oregon years earlier, they usually thrived collectively earlier than he left for one more job after her freshman season. She thought she had a plan. A reunion was forthcoming.
However as Paopao was driving to an early morning class final spring, she obtained a name from her highschool coach, Terri Bamford. “Hey, South Carolina desires to speak to you,” Bamford instructed Paopao. “Daybreak Staley desires to name you — like proper now.”
Paopao pulled over instantly to focus. “South Carolina? South Carolina? Daybreak Staley? The very best program within the nation desires to hit me up?” she replied. “Completely give them my quantity. You’ll be able to inform them to name me proper now.”
For a whole bunch of recruits across the nation, that’s what occurs when Staley reaches out. You cease what you’re doing. You hit your automotive brakes and veer to the roadside. “I couldn’t imagine that I used to be on the telephone with Daybreak,” Paopao stated. “Daybreak Staley of all folks.”
There may be Daybreak Staley, the South Carolina girls’s basketball head coach and winner of two nationwide championships. The Naismith Corridor of Fame participant. The instructor, the main advocate for Black girls, the dancer (play Mary J. Blige and see what occurs), the trash-talker. The fashionista whose sideline outfits — Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Balenciaga — are headlines in weblog posts. The star in commercials for main manufacturers.
Daybreak Staley is a MOOD ✂️💃@dawnstaley | @GamecockWBB pic.twitter.com/IVIHCcpgZH
— ESPN (@espn) April 4, 2022
However earlier than her gamers expertise the numerous sides of Staley, they first decide to studying from her (and her workers’s) tutelage.
Her blueprint appears to be like foolproof as top-rated highschool recruits such A’ja Wilson (No. 1, 2014) and Aliyah Boston (No. 3, 2019) come to South Carolina, win nationwide championships and graduate to change into WNBA stars. Unsurprisingly, most of the most sought-after recruits (4 of the highest 11 within the 2019 class, three of the highest 4 within the 2021 class) make their approach to Columbia, the place Staley has signed each top-35 rated in-state recruit since 2014. That features incoming No. 2 recruit Joyce Edwards.
Ty Harris turned an All-American and received a nationwide championship at South Carolina (2016-2020). She dedicated to the Gamecocks largely as a result of she was drawn to Staley’s authenticity. Allisha Grey transferred to South Carolina earlier than the 2015 season believing — understanding, actually —that enjoying for Staley was her greatest probability to win a title. (She received one.) “I dedicated immediately. I didn’t even have to consider it,” Grey stated. Others be a part of the Gamecocks for professional preparation, to be taught from a former participant and a Black feminine coach, or to construct a tradition. “She’s a truth-teller,” longtime Staley assistant coach Lisa Boyer stated. “We’re who we’re, and also you both prefer it otherwise you don’t.”
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Staley’s strategy is usually central to gamers committing to her. The Staley recruiting expertise, nevertheless, might be extra concerned than the mere telephone name that despatched Paopao and her household into ecstasy. Gamers for this season’s top-seeded Gamecocks, who start their NCAA Event quest to finish an undefeated season on Friday at 2 p.m. ET, know that. So do her former gamers at South Carolina and Temple, the place Staley coached from 2000-2008.
“It’s like successful the lottery,” stated Keisha Hunt, who coached Gamecocks middle Kamilla Cardoso in highschool and on the grassroots circuit. “It’s a dream.”
Think about the next tales from Staley’s recruiting path to discover how and why so many be a part of Staley.
Steakhouses, jollof rice and samba dancing
A lot has modified within the panorama of faculty recruiting since Staley arrived at South Carolina in 2008, however the official go to stays a vital a part of the expertise for many high prospects. Along with X’s and O’s, all profitable coaches should know the way to entertain in some capability.
“You realize when a faculty is basically excited about you,” Grey stated. “If a faculty will go … out of their approach to do issues for you, that simply exhibits, they really need you.”
Staley has that down.
She knew Zia Cooke’s household was tight-knit and Cooke may be homesick if she selected to play so removed from Toledo, Ohio. So on her official go to, Staley hosted an intimate cookout at her home for Cooke, who would return there many occasions as a participant for Staley’s signature burgers and salmon.
What’s it like for level guard @zia_cooke to play for corridor of fame level guard @dawnstaley? We’ll let her let you know. @abc_columbia pic.twitter.com/aOvFww28cj
— Mike Gillespie (@MikeAGillespie) July 2, 2019
On Harris’ go to, Staley took her and her household to Ruth’s Chris Steak Home. When Ashlyn Watkins, a McDonald’s All-American and Columbia native, visited the Gamecocks on her official go to because the nation’s No. 12 prospect within the Class of 2022, it didn’t matter that she grew up as an area and had been aware of this system since attending camps as a woman. Staley nonetheless pulled out all of the stops — full with laser tag and any kind of meals Watkins needed. She picked Chinese language.
Laeticia Amihere, a ’23 South Carolina graduate and present ahead with the Atlanta Dream, grew up in Canada however remembers Staley and her workers bringing in catering from an area African restaurant for her official go to as a nod to her father’s Ghanaian and mom’s Ivorian roots. They dined on jollof rice — a preferred West African dish — in addition to hen, fish and plantains. “Once you go away from residence, it’s sort of arduous to get that homey feeling, whether or not it’s meals and even the folks,” Amihere stated. “(It was) simply a whole lot of stuff that my mother cooks, so I used to be undoubtedly very joyful.”
And when Cardoso, who grew up in Brazil, visited South Carolina after transferring from Syracuse, Staley went even additional.
Along with serving Brazilian steaks, rice, beans and french fries, the Gamecocks had yet another shock for his or her future 6-foot-7 middle. “We had a line-dancing day,” Cardoso stated, explaining that Staley introduced in a samba instructor to bop the normal Brazilian quantity together with her. “It was actually enjoyable.”
‘Yeah, Mother. She’s a reasonably large deal’
Dee Alexander, ESPN’s high recruit within the Class of 2025 and a two-time Ohio Ms. Basketball winner, is of course reserved. Purcell Marian (Ohio) Excessive College coach Jamar Mosley stated she doesn’t inform him each time she receives a name from a school coach.
“However when Daybreak known as her telephone,” Mosley stated, “she was fairly ecstatic about that telephone name.”
Cooke, now a guard with the Los Angeles Sparks, remembers assembly Staley. She was enjoying in a grassroots match and had carried out properly, however didn’t know that Staley can be sitting courtside. After the sport, Cooke was telling her dad how a lot it might imply to her if South Carolina recruited her. That’s when Staley tracked her down.
“After we have been strolling out, (Staley) was like, ‘You can be getting a name from me,’” Cooke stated. “That was by far top-of-the-line moments. … Lots of people look as much as her in so many alternative methods.”
When Amihere arrived on campus for her official go to, Staley took her and her household to Soda Metropolis Market — a staple in Columbia with meals vehicles and native items. It didn’t take lengthy for followers to swarm Staley.
As a two-time nationwide champion coach, Staley has change into the face of South Carolina athletics. (Grant Halverson / NCAA Photographs by way of Getty Photographs)
“I don’t even understand how she steps exterior. … It was arduous to stroll by (the market),”Amihere stated, recalling that her dad and mom have been struck by how well-known Staley was. “And I’m like, … ‘Yeah, Mother. She’s a reasonably large deal.’”
It’s an identical scene when Staley walks right into a highschool fitness center to look at a recruit play.
Will Eudy is the athletic director at Cardinal Newman College in Columbia, the place Watkins performed. He remembers coaches from almost each main program strolling by the doorways to see her video games — Notre Dame, Duke, Baylor, Texas, North Carolina and extra. However when Staley and her assistants got here by?
“Everyone understood when she was within the fitness center. It was one other stage,” he stated. “It’s a vibe after they stroll in. It’s completely completely different.”
“Folks have been cheering, making an attempt to take photos,” Watkins stated, “making an attempt to come back as much as her.”
Staley sat within the entrance row to look at Watkins and was joyful to signal each poster and smile for each photograph requested of her, Eudy stated.
Her star energy helps others at South Carolina, too. In spring 2022, the Gamecocks soccer workforce wanted assist at large receiver. When one in every of their targets, Corey Rucker, visited campus, coach Shane Beamer’s recruiting division requested if it may do something to make his go to extra memorable. The one factor Rucker talked about was assembly Staley. She invited him to her residence and launched her to her almost-as-famous pup, Champ.
you see the thrill! i met the 🐐. #WBBvsEverybody pic.twitter.com/GptuICBGnF
— Corey Rucker🎸 (@coreyrckr7) March 24, 2022
“Whether or not it was Daybreak Staley or Champ, folks turned heads,” Amihere stated. “Simply to see her stardom and the way a lot she means to South Carolina is insane.”
However at the same time as her fame has grown, those that know Staley insist her humility hasn’t modified. Eudy watched Staley sit by a couple of Cardinal Newman blowout victory, simply to point out face with Watkins.
“How do you inform her no when she’s sitting entrance row at a SCISA (South Carolina Unbiased College Affiliation) highschool basketball sport they usually’re successful by 60?” he stated. “That is what she’s doing on Tuesday evening.
“It’s sort of like getting a suggestion from (Steve) Spurrier or getting a suggestion from Dabo (Swinney) or getting a suggestion from (Nick) Saban. That’s gonna be one thing cool after they come into your faculty.”
The ‘awe issue’
Staley was 29 years outdated in April 2000, when Temple employed the Philadelphia native as its head coach. Squarely within the prime of her enjoying profession, that summer time the Charlotte Sting’s level guard was getting ready for her second of three Olympics. Previous to her teaching debut that fall, Staley instructed the Philadelphia Each day Information that the hardest a part of teaching was “having to speak a lot.” “I’m higher at undertaking issues alone as an alternative of telling others the way to do it,” she stated. “However I’m getting higher.”
Staley’s accomplishments — two nationwide Participant of the Yr honors at Virginia, three journeys to the Last 4, an Olympic look and a budding WNBA profession — have been interesting to recruits, even when she was nonetheless discovering her voice on the sideline. “I used to be very conscious of who Coach was as a participant,” stated Cynthia Jordan, a member of Staley’s first recruiting class. Jordan needed to play in a metropolis and assist construct a budding program, however studying from a professional like Staley was a draw, too. “That is the most effective level guard within the nation,” she stated. “There was an awe issue.”
Staley’s success within the WNBA as a first-round draft choose in 199 has impressed recruits by the years. She performed for the Charlotte Sting till 2005. (Garrett Ellwood / WNBAE / Getty Photographs)
As each a head coach and energetic WNBA participant, Staley was completely different from most different coaches recruiting gamers. “There was a connectivity there, as a result of the participant is seeing their coach play,” stated Boyer, who joined Staley’s workers in 2002. “I feel on the ground, when she was with Temple, she was a participant’s coach.” Or typically extra actually a enjoying coach. Jordan recollects Staley competing in opposition to Temple gamers in a sequence of one-on-one video games. “I’m not occurring report to say the way it all went down,” Jordan stated when requested who received these contests.
Even after Staley’s skilled enjoying days led to 2006, her credibility remained. When Staley arrived at South Carolina, she once more wanted to persuade recruits to purchase in to the change she sought to create. The Gamecocks had missed the NCAA Event 5 consecutive years (and made the sphere simply twice since 1991). Tiffany Mitchell, a Charlotte native, grew up idolizing Staley from her time with the Sting. She later dedicated to South Carolina, serving to lay the groundwork from 2012-2016.
Staley’s on-court success nonetheless issues, though fewer present gamers are as conscious of her resumé specifics. When Amihere obtained her scholarship supply, she instantly researched extra about Staley, diving into her enjoying profession. “She’s simply an icon in girls’s sports activities, and in sports activities on the whole, due to her advocacy,” Amihere stated.
‘She challenged me’
Paopao knew she would match into South Carolina’s offense. The Gamecocks wanted a 3-point risk after capturing simply 31 % from past the arc final season, and Paopao, a 42.4-percent shooter from deep at Oregon in 2022-23, may actually assist.
Nonetheless, on the finish of Paopao’s go to to Columbia, Staley made no guarantees.
“She stated, ‘You’re gonna are available in and compete. I’m not gonna provide you with any favors or none of that. You’ve simply gotta are available in right here and compete for what you need to work for and change into the participant that you really want. And should you’re not on the court docket — that’s your fault,’” Paopao recalled. “I believed that was so actual. That resonated with me a lot.”
She is a go-to deep risk, pulling down a career-high 47.1 % of her 3-pointers this season, as South Carolina’s general long-range accuracy has risen almost 9 share factors.
LESSSSS GOOOO ‼️‼️grateful for the chance . new beginnings 🙏🏽🤙🏽 https://t.co/KecBDBAIM8
— 👑🇦🇸🇹🇰 (@tehinapaopa0) April 26, 2023
It stands to motive that, in fact, Staley knew Paopao may are available in and make a big impression. However enjoying at South Carolina is completely different than enjoying elsewhere, stated Hunt, who coached Cardoso. Staley’s recruits can’t worry competitors.
“There’s two sorts of athletes,” Hunt stated. “There’s those that, they may be actually, actually nice basketball gamers, however they don’t need to go the place there’s seven, eight, 9 actually nice basketball gamers.”
And there’s those who go to South Carolina.
“You’re not gonna get the expertise that these women who select to go to South Carolina are gonna get,” Hunt stated.
Like Paopao, Amihere remembers a blunt dialogue with Staley through the recruiting course of about expectations. Throughout one telephone dialog, Staley requested her “What are you able to do for us?” Amihere thought of her response for a second, then replied: “I need to assault the rim.”
Staley went on to clarify what they wanted from Amihere and described what she thought Amihere may add to her sport. “She challenged me,” Amihere stated. That appealed to the previous five-star ahead.
Staley doesn’t maintain again in practices when recruits are round, both. Harris remembers a session when Staley wasn’t happy with gamers. “She received so mad at us. She began yelling at us, saying stuff,” Harris recalled. “(I used to be considering), ‘Maintain on. We’ve received a recruit (right here) now.’ However they should see that.”
Her honesty is refreshing. Her requirements stay excessive.
“Once you hear South Carolina, it’s like, ‘Whoa. You play for the Gamecocks,” Paopao stated. “‘You play for Daybreak Staley.’”
(Photograph of Daybreak Staley and Ashlyn Watkins: Jacob Kupferman / Getty Photographs)