Gamecocks Secure Commitment From Amihere

Laeticia Amihere (5-stars, 6’2”, F, King’s Christian) has committed to play with the University of South Carolina Gamecocks next Fall.

Amihere held a signing party at her elementary school Ste Famille with her family, teammates and coaches in attendance to make the announcement.

“It really came down to my values, what was important for me”, said Amihere about what helped clinch her decision, during an interview posted by the OSBA

“Just making sure there’s a winning culture, you know, I want to win a championship. Just feeling that relationship with the coaches. And I built really great relationships through the process, and I’m feeling grateful for even being in this position.”

Amihere is a 5-star player is quite close to being complete. She is 6’2”, with Guard-like skills such as ball handling and decision making. She can shoot from all three levels and routinely makes her mark on the games she plays with her offensive mindset. She is a very good defender as well, and uses every bit of her wingspan, length and athleticism to block shots by patrolling the paint and being able to guard the perimeter.

Being as driven as she is and her reputation for being a gym rat, has propelled her skills to be the top ranked player in her Class. Her past successes against players her age, as well as even tasting experience with the U19 Canadian National Women’s Team as a 16 year-old, all speak to the high standards her has set for herself and has attained. Wanting to be among those that have that same success pedigree, which includes a non-compromising mindset and willingness to continue to pursue excellence, has all factored in to her deciding to join the Southeast Conference based Gamecocks.

“They just won the championship, Dawn is a winning coach, she’s won so many gold medals as a coach and as a player. Even the other coaches, you’ve got a huge staff of WNBA players and former WNBA coaches. So, they know how to win.”

Although there were many pursuers, She narrowed down her choices to a final 3 schools, which also included Louisville and Kentucky. In the end, obviously, there could only be one.

“What divides them from the rest, was my visit” she went on to say later on in the interview.

“When I got there, Dawn was real with me. She didn’t cut corners. She showed me her true colours. When I was at practice, she was getting on her Players. You know when you go on official visits they can show you the fluff. She acted like I wasn’t there. That was the most important for me. Someone that was real. “

Amihere made headlines last April with an in game dunk at a NCAA viewing period Boo Williams Tournament event with many college coaches on attendance. That top of the key steal, leading to that clear path flush during her Sophomore year, made her an instant household name north and south of the border, especially after many big name media outlets began to share the feat.

Later in the year however, an ACL tear grounded her, and has minimized her movements to those that are strictly rehabilitation in nature.

Although many thought that she might have made a return to game action, closer to the October anniversary that the injury occurred, Amihere will be taking a cautious approach. She has been in the gym working as a part of her comeback and we’ll likely see her return to the court with King’s Christian, in the new year, ensuring a full recovery.