May 3, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley completed her 2012 signing class with the addition of 6-foot-5 center Wilka Montout (Cayenne, French Guiana, South America/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M). Montout (pronounced mawn-TOOT) has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University and play for the Gamecocks. She will have two years of eligibility beginning with the 2012-13 academic year.

“We are very excited to put the finishing touches on our 2012 recruiting class in signing Wilka,” Staley said. “She is an experienced post player who can open up the floor with her outside shooting, and her basketball IQ will help her make an immediate impact.”

A two-year starter at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Montout earned Third-Team NJCAA All-America status last season after helping the Lady Norse to the Region II Tournament title and a spot in the NJCAA National Tournament. She ranked 13th in the nation with a team-best 18.6 points per game while grabbing 8.2 rebounds per game. She earned Region II MVP honors in both the regular season and the tournament, and averaged 15.5 points per game over two games in the national tournament. In 31 games as a freshman, Montout averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds over 31 games.

Montout joins Staley’s four early signees – Tiffany Davis (Houston, Texas/Westbury Christian), Asia Dozier (Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley), Tiffany Mitchell (Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day) and Khadijah Sessions (Myrtle Beach, S.C./Myrtle Beach).