Junior forward Chloe Kitts has been a catalyst for the No. 4 South Carolina women's basketball team, strengthening her game to help drive the Gamecocks to a 23-3 record.
“There’s so many (athletes) that just come to practice, and that’s it. They don’t do any extra,” head coach Dawn Staley said. “She does all the extra, so I want basketball to repay her.”
Kitts has solidified her spot as a key player on the team in her third season in garnet and black,. Kitts is averaging 20.4 minutes per game and is scoring an average of 9.4 points per game this season.
Her highest scoring game in conference play comes from her game against Mississippi State, in which she had 17 points. Kitts scored double figures in six of the eight games since the win against the Bulldogs,.
“Chloe works her butt off, and sometimes she doesn’t get to reap the benefits of her hard work through stats,” Staley said about the Mississippi State game.
Kitts has been a force on the glass, leading the team with 7.6 rebounds per game. Her season-high came in the season opener against Michigan, where she finished with 14.
Kitts is currently at 182 rebounds on the season, which is 64 more than her next-closest teammate in line. Kitts' performance on the glass has her ninth on the SEC leaderboard for rebounds per game.
Kitts' commitment to basketball and improving her skills started early in high school. After receiving more than 40 scholarship offers from top colleges around the country, she decided to commit to the University of South Carolina.
In December 2022, Kitts decided to enroll early at South Carolina and skip the remainder of her senior year.
In 2024, Kitts got to take part in a championship run similar to the one that made her come to the University of South Carolina in the first place. She performed well in South Carolina's tournament run, scoring an average of 8.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and about 16.3 minutes per game in the postseason.
During the offseason before her junior year, Kitts wanted to commit to getting stronger so that she could stay up on her feet more often.
"Last year I was falling every possession," Kitts said. "The offseason for me was staying in the weight room. I spend more time in the weight room than I do getting up extra work because I realized that was more beneficial for me."
Kitts' commitment to improving in the offseason has paid off. In a game against then-No. 8 Duke on Dec. 5, she tied her career high with 21 points and 11 rebounds in her 25 minutes of playing time.
“I’m happy because Chloe pours into herself; she does all the right things in regards to prepping herself,” Staley said after the game. “She does all the right things and (makes) lifestyle changes ... in order for her to play this way.”
While Kitts' selflessness can be a strength on the court, Staley said it's something she can grow from.
“Tonight, Chloe just played mind games with herself, and sometimes that happens; it’s an unselfish act,” Staley said after South Carolina's win over Auburn. “But at the same time, if she doesn’t shoot, we have to start the process (of running a play) all over.”
Her selflessness isn’t just noticed by Staley, it’s noticed by her teammates as well. Freshman forward Joyce Edwards also encourages Kitts to shoot the ball more often.
"At the free-throw line, Joyce was yelling at me to shoot the ball,” Kitts said after the win against Auburn. “She was like, 'I know you made two before, and I know you’re not trying to be selfish, but I was wide open.'”
Since the Auburn game, Kitts has been leaning into taking more shots. In the Georgia game on Feb. 6, she tied for the most made field goals with sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley with five while taking eight attempts. In South Carolina's game against Texas on Feb. 9, she made four field goals, tying with Edwards and Fulwiley for the most on the day. Her nine attempts also tied Fulwiley and senior guard Te-Hina Paopao for the most on the afternoon.
"She wants to be a pro, so she's active in doing things and creating habits that will help her," Staley said. "So I want basketball to repay her for that every time she steps on the floor."
What's next?
Watch Kitts and the Gamecocks (23-3) as they face Arkansas (9-18) at the Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 20. Tipoff will be at 7 p.m and will broadcast live on the SEC Network.