Turning down South Carolina, the program that LSU’s Kim Mulkey once dubbed “the best in the country,” isn’t something many would dare to do. But young five-star recruit Trinity Jones did just that. With remarkable poise and confidence, she chose to take her talents to Shawn Poppie’s Clemson Tigers instead. And perhaps no one felt that sting more than the Gamecocks’ head coach, who’s finding herself on the losing end of a major recruiting battle. Again!

The announcement, as reported by 94 Feet WWB on X: “#11 2026 Recruit Trinity Jones has committed to Clemson and Shawn Poppie🐯 Major pickup for the Tigers and an interesting recruiting process for Jones.”

Jones, a 6-foot-1 sharpshooter from Bolingbrook High School in Illinois, had offers from some of the biggest names in the sport: Kim Mulkey at LSU, Tennessee, UCLA, TCU, and yes, even Dawn Staley’s powerhouse program at South Carolina. 

For context, Staley’s Gamecocks have practically been a five-star player magnet for years. So, to see Jones, the No. 7 overall recruit and the No. 2 shooting guard in the nation, per 247Sports Composite, turn them down… that’s a headline in itself.

So, what convinced Trinity Jones to pick Clemson over the sport’s giants? It was all about a special feeling from the get-go. “The relationship with the staff really helped me make my decision,” Jones told 247Sports. “I felt so comfortable at the team activities. I just felt so comfortable with the girls and I didn’t have to sugar coat anything. I also started a relationship with some of the older girls on my unofficial visit to Clemson and they stayed in contact ever since. The little things matter to me and that’s what they provided.”

And clearly, this isn’t a one-off success story.

Trinity Jones’ commitment marks Clemson’s fourth top-50 recruit among the 2026 class, joining Julia Scott (No. 39), Kimora Fields (No. 45), and Meeyah Green (No. 59). Under Shawn Poppie, only in his second year, the Tigers are quietly building one of the most promising young cores in the country. 

Coming off a 14-17 season, including 6-12 in ACC play, Clemson might not be a national name yet, but with Poppie’s recruiting firepower and talents like Jones in the fold, the Tigers’ hunt for their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019 suddenly feels very achievable.

Clemson women’s basketball has found its spark again, and it starts with Shawn Poppie. In just his first year at the helm, Poppie breathed life into a program that had struggled for years to find its footing. One NCAA Tournament appearance in two decades doesn’t exactly scream ‘elite,’ but under Poppie’s leadership, the Tigers suddenly look like a team rewriting its own story.

The results are already showing. Earlier this year, Clemson stunned the basketball world by beating No. 20 Cal, its first win over a ranked opponent in nearly two years! But more than the wins, it’s the fight, the fearlessness, and the collective confidence that mark the beginning of a new era.

A rare recruiting slump for Dawn Staley?

It’s not often that Dawn Staley finds herself on the losing end of a recruiting battle, but lately, the South Carolina head coach has had to watch a few top prospects slip away. The latest came when Olivia Vukosa, the No. 3-ranked recruit in the class of 2026, announced her commitment to UConn.

The 6-foot-4 center had South Carolina among her final options, but when it was time to make her decision, the Gamecocks weren’t even in her visit photos on social media. Vukosa reportedly never made her official trip to Columbia, instead choosing to spend her time in Storrs, Connecticut, the home of the very program that beat Staley’s team in last season’s national championship game.

Adding a little sting to that, Vukosa plays at Christ the King in New York, the same high school that produced UConn legends Sue Bird and Tina Charles. Her decision just continues a recent trend that Staley probably doesn’t love seeing.

In September, Oliviyah Edwards, the No. 2 player in the 2026 class, chose Tennessee over South Carolina after canceling her official visit to Columbia. Then, earlier in October, McKenna Woliczko, a five-star power forward ranked No. 6, committed to Iowa. Three top-six names, three misses for Staley. 

Still, it’s not like South Carolina’s cupboard is empty. Staley’s 2026 class currently includes one commitment, Kelsi Andrews, the 6-foot-4 center from IMG Academy who ranks No. 18 overall (ESPN) and No. 2 (247Sports Composite) among centers.

Meanwhile, five-star guard Jerzy Robinson, ranked No. 5 nationally, is expected to visit Columbia somewhere in the near future. Plus, Staley already has the No. 6 (Agot Makeer) and No. 15 (Ayla McDowell) from the 2025 class on her roster this season, keeping the Gamecocks’ talent pipeline steady.

Over the years, Staley has built a dynasty through relentless recruiting, landing either the No. 1 or No. 2 class four times, including in 2024. Her player development track record speaks for itself: 18 WNBA draft picks, 11 first-rounders, and two No. 1 overall selections.

So while she’s had a few setbacks this cycle, no one’s counting out Dawn Staley just yet. If history tells us anything, it’s that she always finds a way to reload.