April 19, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley announced today that Markeshia Grant (Tallahassee, Fla./Central Florida Community College) has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of South Carolina and play basketball for the Gamecocks. A third-team NJCAA All-America selection, Grant will have two years of eligibility beginning with the 2010-11 academic year.

“Markeshia Grant is a communicator, a point guard who has the ability and intellect to help run our team,” Staley said. “She’s an unselfish player who can score in a variety of ways but loves getting others involved in the offense.”

A 5-foot-7 point guard, Grant led Central Florida Community College in scoring and assists last season, earning third-team National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-America honors. Her 17.7 points per game was 20th in the NJCAA, and her 5.2 assists per outing ranked 16th. Grant was also active defensively, swiping 3.5 steals per game to rank 16th in the NJCAA. She helped the Lady Patriots to a 19-11 record, capturing first-team Florida Community College Activities Association (FCCAA)/NJCAA Region VIII honors as well as a spot on the All-Mid-Florida Conference First Team for the second time. Grant led the FCCAA in 3-point field goal percentage in each of the last two seasons and ranked among the league’s top 10 in assists each year of her career as well. She entered CFCC after an all-state career at Florida State University High.

Grant is the third member of the recruiting class that will join the Gamecocks for the 2010-11 season, joining early signee Brittany Webb and spring signee Kayla Brewer.

South Carolina finished the 2009-10 season with a 14-15 overall record, including a 7-9 mark in SEC action that had the Gamecocks tied for seventh place in the league.