MiLaysia Fulwiley, Hometown Hero | Being news

Being undefeated is one thing, but doing it on your hometown in your first season is a totally different feeling. That’s exactly what reigning SEC Freshman of the Year MiLaysia Fulwiley did earlier this month. For her it was many years.

“The moment has definitely come full circle,” the Columbia resident tells ESSENCE. “South Carolina was the primary school to supply me, and since I’m from here, I at all times desired to play for them. They believed in me from day one and I’m glad I proved to them that I could bring home a national championship.

Fulwiley has been a state legend since she was an adolescent. She began playing varsity basketball within the seventh grade and that very same yr she received her first scholarship offer from none apart from Dawn Staley. She has won 4 state championships in six years of playing college basketball, and winning at the best level is nothing latest for her. However, winning a national title in her first collegiate season was something she could only have imagined.

“Winning the championship is a dream,” he says. “So to do it so early in your career means a lot. My teammates keep reminding me how crazy it is that we even did it. But now we want to do it again.” A repeat of the South Carolina game is not too far-fetched either, especially with Fulwiley returning for a second yr. She provided a missing offensive spark that the Gamecocks did not have last yr, losing within the Final Four to Caitlin Clark and Iowa. She averaged nearly 12 points off the bench, which was an enormous reason why her team finished the season undefeated this time around, becoming only the ninth team in NCAA history to accomplish that.

“Being undefeated is not easy,” explains Fulwiley. “We made it look easy, but it surely’s not. We love Coach Staley and I’m glad we could help her make history.

After scoring a career-high 24 points within the SEC Championship against Angel Reese and LSU, she became the primary freshman in South Carolina history to earn SEC Tournament MVP honors. She also became the primary person to sign with NIL for 2 huge brands. “I chose Curry Brand because they felt like family and made me feel like I could be myself,” she says. “With Red Bull it wasn’t a problem for me at all because they are very nice and I feel they suit my playing style.”

Fulwiley’s first season was stuffed with memorable moments. Before the season, she had high expectations and he or she met each of them. Despite its huge success, the 2023 McDonald’s All-American still stays humble. After winning a national title, receiving several awards and accolades, and even winning “MiLaysia Fulwiley Day” at W.J. Keenan High School, she didn’t put herself above other freshmen like Juju Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo. When asked who the perfect freshman within the country is, she replies, “I’ll say I’m one of the best.”

Without a doubt, she is. Not just top-of-the-line freshmen within the country, but top-of-the-line players regardless of sophistication. He already has one ring to prove it. And with no less than one other three years under Coach Staley, it is not out of the query that she may very well be considered top-of-the-line of all time.