Fresh off earning MaxPreps Female National Athlete of the Year honors for the second straight year,
Joyce Edwards of
Camden (S.C.) added another accolade Sunday when she was named MVP of the FIBA U18 AmeriCup.
The United States ran through its opponents on the way to an 11th straight gold. Following an 80-69 victory over Canada in the final, the South Carolina commit was selected MVP.
Edwards finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds and five steals in the title victory in Colombia. The 6-foot-3 future Gamecock averaged 14.2 points and 7.2 rebounds for the tournament while shooting 54.5 percent from the field.
Sienna Betts of
Grandview (Aurora, Colo.) earned All-Star Five honors. The Class of 2025 center is committed to UCLA and dropped 15 points with nine boards in the gold medal game. She averaged 13.2 points and 8.0 rebounds for the tournament.
Edwards towered over the competition during her high school career in volleyball, basketball and soccer, earning countless accolades including MaxPreps All-American honors on the hardwood. In her senior year, she led the 26-5 Camden volleyball team in kills with 215, scored 45 goals for the 18-5 soccer team and led the basketball team to its second straight state title. She averaged 31.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game as the Bulldogs went 28-2.
"She's destined for greatness in anything she does," South Carolina coach Dawn Staley told
MaxPreps in a story about Edwards' Athlete of the Year honor. "It won't be enough for her to check off basketball accolades. We will have our hands full in helping her fulfill all the things she wants to do in life."
