[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” bb_built=”1″ _i=”0″ _address=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”2px|0px|8px|0px” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Featured Image caption” _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0.0″]<\/p>\n
Former South Carolina star and current Las Vegas Aces power forward A\u2019ja Wilson pictured with her former head coach, Dawn Staley, at Gamecock Tipoff.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”2px|0px|37.9062px|0px” bb_built=”1″ _i=”1″ _address=”1″][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_margin=”10px|||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|18.9531px|0px” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0″][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.0″][et_pb_text admin_label=”News Story” _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|” text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.0.0″]<\/p>\n
Basketball season is right around the corner in Columbia and both the men and women\u2019s Gamecock basketball teams took a fresh approach when it came to their annual Gamecock Tipoff event last Friday.<\/p>\n
On the corner of Hampton and Main in front of the Columbia Art Museum, head coaches Frank Martin and Dawn Staley greeted a crowd of fans as they filled the stands to see some of their favorite players closer than ever before.<\/p>\n
For Blake Edmunds, UofSC’s assistant athletic director of marketing & fan experience, it\u2019s all about engaging the Columbia community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to bring this event to Downtown Columbia to the people in the city,\u201d Edmunds, a South Carolina graduate, said. \u201cWe thought it was going to be a nice marriage of both the university and downtown. This town has been so awesome to us, we thought we\u2019d show some love and bring it down here \u2013 change it up a little bit, you know, try something new.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to having team introductions and events on a makeshift court, the teams signed autographs for fans as the event concluded.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Former Gamecock and current Las Vegas Aces star A\u2019ja Wilson made an appearance to the delight of fans.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wilson, a Hopkins, S.C. native,\u00a0also returned to Columbia to receive an Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the University of South Carolina\u2019s School of Journalism and Mass Communications.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving A\u2019ja back, that was the cherry on top of this whole thing,\u201d Edmunds said. \u201cWe feel honored, basically. I know she played here, but to take time out of her time off, it\u2019s fantastic to have her here. I know she\u2019s going to be excited to be back, but it\u2019s always a treat to have her back here.\u201d<\/p>\n Gamecocks women\u2019s basketball coach Dawn Staley was also ecstatic to have her former power forward out front and center for the event.<\/p>\n \u201cA\u2019ja? A\u2019ja\u2019s always around,\u201d Staley said. \u201cWe feel like she\u2019s always here, like we can\u2019t get rid of her. It\u2019s great to have her back. Someone that\u2019s contributed so much to our program and this community, she\u2019s going to be received well and show us a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n With the women\u2019s team picked to win the Southeastern Conference in preseason projections and the men\u2019s team bringing in some new faces, including Columbia native and Hammond School graduate Seventh Woods from North Carolina, Edmunds is eager to see this year get underway.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a buzz in the city right now about Gamecock Basketball, whether that\u2019s men\u2019s or women\u2019s,\u201d Edmunds said. \u201cI think we\u2019re just most excited to get started. I think it\u2019s going to be a fun season. I think both teams are going to play really well this season \u2026 It\u2019s going to be all around an exciting time in the CLA this year.\u201d<\/p>\n Staley\u2019s Lady Gamecocks will take to the court on Nov. 5 against Alabama State and Frank Martin\u2019s men\u2019s squad will open their season at home on Nov. 6 at against North Alabama. Both games are set to tip-off at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”1″ _address=”1.0.1″][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Tipoff_P1W_NGP.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image 1″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” always_center_on_mobile=”on” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.1.0″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 1″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” _i=”1″ _address=”1.0.1.1″]<\/p>\n Lady Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley is going into her twelfth season at the helm of South Carolina’s women’s basketball program.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Tipoff_P2W_NGP.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image 2″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” always_center_on_mobile=”on” _i=”2″ _address=”1.0.1.2″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 2″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” hover_enabled=”0″ _i=”3″ _address=”1.0.1.3″]<\/p>\n University of South Carolina’s Assistant AD of Marketing & Fan Experience, Blake Edmunds, is one of the key facilitators of Gamecock Tipoff.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Tipoff_P3W_NGP.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image 3″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” always_center_on_mobile=”on” _i=”4″ _address=”1.0.1.4″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 3″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” hover_enabled=”0″ _i=”5″ _address=”1.0.1.5″]<\/p>\n University of South Carolina President Bob Caslen was greeted by men’s basketball head coach Frank Martin at Gamecock Tipoff.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Tipoff_P4W_NGP.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image 4″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” always_center_on_mobile=”on” _i=”6″ _address=”1.0.1.6″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 4″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” _i=”7″ _address=”1.0.1.7″]<\/p>\n Shooting guard Seventh Woods, a Columbia native and Hammond School graduate, is in his first season with the Gamecocks after transferring from North Carolina.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Gamecocks basketball programs ventured out to the corner of Hampton & Main Streets for this year’s Gamecock Tipoff. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":226,"featured_media":25339,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[39,68,38,69,1],"tags":[1107,1110,601,1108,1109,1111,443,603,1112,600],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25208"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/226"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25208"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25208\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28641,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25208\/revisions\/28641"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}