2024 Hall of Fame Class: Jocelyn Penn

Before recent South Carolina women’s basketball star players were household names around the country, Jocelyn Penn (1998-2003) was doing things that were absolutely stunning. The Conyers, Georgia, native is one of nine inductees into the 2024 class of the University of South Carolina Association of Lettermen’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

“I was shocked, overjoyed and immediately started crying because my #1 fan, my mom, gained her angel wings in November of 2023,” said Penn, who currently lives in her hometown. “She would have been so proud and smiling ear to ear. The past two years have been rough for my family and I, so I’m super blessed to be able to experience this with them and to have my mom watching over us.”

Penn led the Gamecocks to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in her final two seasons, including the program’s first ever Elite Eight appearance in 2002. She earned First Team All-SEC honors in both of those seasons as well as First Team All-America honors as a senior when she averaged an eye-popping 23.9 points per game and was a finalist for the Naismith Trophy. She shot over 62% from the floor in her last two years and ranks sixth in career scoring for the Gamecocks with 1,939 points.

“I played a small forward,” Penn said. “I was undersized in the forward position but used my quickness to get around bigger post players. I was very quick, scrappy and very aggressive for my size. I’m most proud of being a part of the first ever Elite Eight in program history. The team and I believed in ourselves and each other and made it happen. We fought every game and held each other accountable!”

Penn also set a single game record when she scored 51 points against Stetson in January of 2003.

“Scoring came easy, and I had amazing teammates who got me the ball at all the right times,” Penn recalled of that historic game. “I really just remember being in disbelief that I had that many points, honestly.”

For Penn, not all of her best memories were about on-court success.

“The best memories of my days at USC were building something great for the women’s basketball program with amazing teammates and big sister, Annie,” Penne said. “That was another dream come true, and of course getting my degree in sociology with a minor in social work.”

When her collegiate career ended, Penn was a first-round pick in 2003 WNBA draft by Charlotte and was later traded to Washington where she played one year and then played one season with San Antonio.

“Playing professionally was a dream come true,” Penn said. “Just to be able to say that I accomplished that, is a true blessing. I also played overseas in Poland for two seasons, as well as France, Israel, Sweden, and Russia.”

She retired in 2010 and immediately started working in elementary education.

“I started out working in kindergarten for a couple of years before moving to physical education where I have been for the past eight years serving kindergarten through fifth grade. I love being able to watch the growth of our youth from the first day to the last day, and to be someone that they can look up to.”