SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Head coach Jason Williams and the USC Upstate women's basketball staff announced the addition of three Spartans enlisted to join the Spartan Army for the 2024-2025 season on Wednesday afternoon. 

Williams expressed his excitement for the newest additions to his team saying, "As we continue to build this program it was still just as important as ever to bring in young women with great character. We did that with this class, but we also were able to bring in the type of talent that not only helps to continue the ascension of our program but also help to speed that process up. Our staff is beyond excited about adding these three amazing young women to our Spartan family as they all possess great basketball skill but more importantly the high character that is the foundation of our program." 
 

Madison Miller – 6'4 Center; Forward (Hamburg, NJ) 

Madison Miller will come to Spartanburg after graduating from Morris Catholic School in 2024. While attending Morris Catholic School, Miller is a three-sport athlete after playing basketball for four years, volleyball for three years, and track & field for one year as well as being a manager for one year. Going into her senior year, Miller sits with 593 points, 504 rebounds, 90 blocks, 67 assists, and 29 steals in her career. She has collected several honors during her time at Morris Catholic including All-Conference Honorable Mention, All-Conference First Team, and Most Valuable Player. Miller is involved in several groups off the court including the mental health club, choir, drama club, French club, women up, and green team. In addition to playing for the Crusaders, Miller plays for Rise as One where she averages 25 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks per game.  

"Madison is a very very special player that Spartan nation is going to love watching for the next four years. She is a player that possesses size and skill that is not commonly seen in the Big South. Our system requires post players who can demand attention on the block which Madison will do every time she is on the floor, but Madison also has the ability shoot the ball from the perimeter at a high percentage. Madison is a player who is well prepared for this level after spending almost all of her basketball career with a great coach and trainer in Kevin Houston and is now finishing her career at one of the best high school programs in the country at Morris Catholic. As excited as we are about Madison's talent on the floor, we are more excited about who she is as a person. She is a phenomenal person who comes from a great family. We are elated to add someone with Madison's skill set, versatility, motor, work ethic, and character to our family." 

Ava Miller – 6'2 Forward; Freshman (Rochester, MN) 

Ava Miller will come to Spartanburg after graduating from Mayo High School in 2024. While attending Mayo, Miller is a two-sport athlete after playing both basketball and volleyball for the past three years. Going into her senior year as a Spartan at Mayo, Miller averages 16.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game. Miller has collected several honors while playing at Mayo including All-Conference for basketball (2021-2022, 2022-2023) and volleyball (2021, 2022, 2023). She helped lead Mayo to numerous Conference Championships in both sports as the Spartans were basketball Conference Champions in 2022-2023 and volleyball Conference Champions in 2021. In addition to playing for Mayo High School, Miller played for North Tartan AAU and Southern Minnesota Volleyball. 

"When it comes to fit, Ava is a perfect one. Ava is a post player that is not only skilled, but she also has a very high IQ and a motor that is unmatched. Ava is a player who possesses a feel for the game that is rare to see at her age. Ava played for a great travel program and coaches at North Tartan and comes from a great family who also has a great basketball pedigree, so she comes in with a basketball acumen that will result in a quicker transition. More importantly Ava is a person who changes every room she walks in with her presence and personality. All of these qualities are why our staff is so excited to add someone of Ava's talent and character to our family. 

Gwen Jenkins – 5'9 Guard; Freshman (Columbus, Ohio) 

Gwen Jenkins will come to Spartanburg after graduating from Dublin Coffman High School in 2024. While attending Dublin Coffman, Jenkins played basketball for four years. As a Shamrock, Jenkins helped her team become District Champions, OCC Champions, and was named Second Team All-OCC. Off the court, Jenkins is an honor student. In addition to playing for the Shamrocks, Jenkins also played for the Sports City Angels.  

"Our staff made it a priority to add a perimeter scorer in this class, we did that with Gwen as she scores the ball at a high level. Gwen has a skill set to where she can score off the bounce and she can she shoot the three, but she also possesses the IQ that puts her in positions consistently to show her great skill set. Gwen is a player that not only can score it but she is a player who is always looking to make the right play, so she also does a great job of making those around her better. Gwen is a player who will walk in ready to make an impact due to playing for great programs and coaches with Sports City Angels and Dublin Coffman High School. Gwen is another player who we feel we win with because of who she is as a person. She is a great person with a strong work ethic which fits perfectly with who we are culturally as a program. Our staff is ecstatic to add someone with Gwen's skill set, IQ, work ethic, and character to our family." 

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