Nov. 10, 2004

Columbia, S.C. – – South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Susan Walvius announced the signing of local star Brionna Dickerson to a National Letter of Intent Wednesday.

A 4.0 student, Dickerson is a local product from Heathwood Hall Episcopal School who is on pace to finish her high school career with over 4,000 points. With more than 3,400 career points scored entering her senior season, Dickerson will likely finish her career as the second-leading scorer in the history of the state of South Carolina, behind only Ivory Latta, who scored 4,319 points during her career at York Comprehensive HS.

“We are all very excited to have Brionna sign with us,” Walvius said. “Her scoring ability is remarkable. She shoots the ball off the dribble as well as anybody that I’ve seen. Bri is a leader, competitor and she has a tremendous work ethic. She has the ability to make an immediate impact at USC.”

Brionna Dickerson
5-9 Shooting Guard
Columbia, S.C.
Heathwood Hall

Prep/Personal: Local product who dominated the competition during her high school career, averaging 40 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, where she was coached by her father Jerome…Scored more than 3,400 points during her first three years there and will likely eclipse the 4,000-point plateau and finish her career as the second-highest scorer in the history of the state of South Carolina…Three-time SCISA Player of the Year…A state finalist for the Wendy’s Heisman Award…Ranked as the No. 17 senior in America by Roundball Journal…Tabbed as the 69th-best player by All Star Girls Report…A top-100 selection by Blue Star Index..Honorable Mention selection to the 2004 Street and Smith’s All-America team…Born November 9, 1986 in Columbia…Daughter of Jerome and Sandra Dickerson…Her father played at Allen University and served as a coach at Benedict College for seven years…Her mother was an all-state selection at Lower Richland HS and was the top player at Columbia College…Has two younger sisters, Victoria and Kristen…Is a cousin of former Gamecock great and current WNBA player Shaunzinski Gortman…Chose South Carolina because of the educational opportunity and the chance to play on a team that is rebuilding with a chance to win the national championship…Lists international business as her anticipated major…USC has the number one international business school in the nation…Plans for after college include playing in the WNBA and owning a sports agency…Would also like to open a recreation center for children with special needs…Chose South Carolina over scholarship offers from Vanderbilt, Princeton, Wake Forest and North Carolina State.

Brionna Dickerson on coming to South Carolina: “I am very excited about the opportunity to come to South Carolina. I have always dreamed of going to school there and have been a long-time supporter of the program. I have had my eyes on coming to USC since I was little. I used to always go to the games, and I will continue to go to as many games as I can now.”

Regarding the recruiting process: “All of the coaches recruited me, but Coach Baldwin was the main one I dealt with. His dedication won me over.”

Regarding the prospects of joining a roster that remains fully intact from the previous year: “A lot of people would be discouraged by that and would say that they’d have to sit on the bench at the beginning, but I don’t look at it that way. I see it as a chance to learn the system and learn what it takes to be competitive at this level.”

Regarding the South Carolina coaching staff: “The coaches have so much experience. With her background, Coach Hill-MacDonald knows what players have to do to get the WNBA, which is where I eventually want to go. Coach Walvius and Coach Baldwin both have a lot of good experience working with different teams and know what it takes to succeed, and I was a huge fan of Coach Marciniak when she was a player.”

South Carolina Head Coach Susan Walvius on Brionna Dickerson off the court: “Brionna is a great person. She is very intelligent and I can’t say enough about how impressed I am with her and her family as people. She will be an excellent ambassador for the University of South Carolina.”

Heathwood Hall Head Coach Jerome Dickerson regarding Brionna Dickerson: “Brionna is a special player that knows how to score. Most kids don’t have the kind of pressure on them to score that Brionna has. She understands how to score and she is someone that can take a team to the next level because of her ability. Brionna will fill an immediate need for South Carolina, because she is a pure scorer.”