One day after news broke that Mississippi State transfer big Madina Okot had committed to South Carolina, the 6-foot-6 center officially signed with the Gamecocks on Tuesday.

South Carolina had been in search of a true center this offseason after going through last season without one.

Dawn Staley and Co. found exactly what they were looking for with the addition of Okot.

“Madina gives our frontcourt additional size and speed,” Staley said in a release. “She has the ability to score, rebound and defend, and her competitiveness and SEC experience are added bonuses. We’re excited to bring her to our Gamecock family, and I know the FAMS are going to love watching her play.”

The Mumias, Kenya native, fell just outside of ESPN.com’s Top 25 players in the portal, listed in the “others considered” category, but she should be exactly what the Gamecocks need.

Madina Okot (Photo by Mike Mattina, Mississippi State Athletics)

Okot averaged 11.3 points and a team-high 9.6 rebounds, good for fourth in the SEC, for Mississippi State last season. She scored on an SEC-best 64.9 percent shooting, fourth in the nation, and added 1.12 blocks per game.

Okot’s signing comes after South Carolina landed Florida State transfer Ta’Niya Latson, ranked ESPN’s top player in the portal, and last season’s top scorer in the country.

“Ta’Niya has established herself in the college women’s game, and her accomplishments speak for themselves,” Staley said. “But, the beauty of her game is not just her ability to score. She has another superpower in her ability to set her teammates up to score, and that’s just a dangerous combination for opposing teams. Ta’Niya is an incredible leader and more importantly a fierce competitor. We’re honored to be part of her journey.”

A 5-foot-8 guard, Latson was an honorable mention All-American all three seasons at Florida State, earning First-Team All-ACC recognition every year as well. In three seasons with the Seminoles, she posted 22.53 points per game on 44.8 percent shooting, including 32.6 percent from 3-point range, and 84.2 percent from the free throw line. In addition to her scoring, she handed out 3.88 assists, swiped 1.76 steals and grabbed 4.40 rebounds per game.

In 2024-25, Latson led the nation with 25.21 points per game and became just the third player in ACC history to record 2,000 career points in her first three seasons and the fastest to do it at Florida State.