South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley recently offered a scholarship to local point guard Lauren Jacobs. The promising junior attends Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia (she also plays for the A’ja Wilson 17U AAU team) and the offer meant so much to Jacobs that she put the Gamecocks on her list of top schools less than a week later.

Jacobs’ top 10 includes the South Carolina Gamecocks, Clemson Tigers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Ole Miss Rebels, Georgia Bulldogs, Auburn Tigers, Florida Gators, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Marquette Golden Eagles and Penn State Nittany Lions.

The Gamecocks do not yet have a commitment for the class of 2025, but Jacobs is one of several elite candidates considering the South Carolina basketball program.

Jacobs is 5’10” and uses quickness and leverage in her game as a smaller defender. She is stronger than most smaller players and isn’t afraid to use her body to create spacing as she wants to get a clear view of the basket.

Ball-handling is one of Jacobs’ strengths as a player, and she is naturally aggressive when she has the ball in her hands, allowing her to attack the basket with all her might or fire off the dribble for a lightning-quick jump shot. Her shot selection still needs to improve (something a coach like Dawn Staley will look to), but she has very high potential on offense.

On defense, Jacobs can cause problems for opposing defenders with her good feet and strength. She has good instincts to jump into the passing lane, and her hands are quick enough to smack the basketball away from players with a loose grip. When she steals those balls, she immediately looks to start a fast break, turning good defense into a fast offense.

You can watch some of her films here.