Chloe Kitts available for No. 1 South Carolina after sitting out a game due to academic suspension

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts will be available to play Thursday after missing the top-ranked Gamecocks last game due to an academic suspension.

Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said everyone, including Kitts, would be ready to play when the team opens its home season against Coppin State on Thursday night.

Kitts was held out of South Carolina’s 71-57 victory over then-No. 9 N.C. State in Charlotte this past Sunday due to what the team said was an “academic policy issue.”

Staley said in a statement released this past Sunday that Kitts has made strides athletically and academically. While she could not play against the Wolfpack, “we’re incredibly proud of her progress,” Staley said.

Kitts is a 6-foot-2 junior forward from Oviedo, Florida, who averaged 9.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in South Carolina’s 38-0 national championship season a year ago.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley reacts during the second half of an NCAA women’s college basketball game against NC State Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Kitts started the team’s season-opening 68-62 win over Michigan in Las Vegas on Nov. 4, leading the Gamecocks with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.