A'ja Wilson's father praised South Carolina signee Jerzy Robinson as a 'brilliant addition' to the team. Robinson, a 6-foot-4 center and No. 6 recruit in the Class of 2026, attended an event celebrating Wilson's new Nike signature shoes.
Key points
A'ja Wilson's dad praised Jerzy Robinson.
Robinson is a 6-foot-4 center and No. 6 recruit.
She will join South Carolina women's basketball.
Robinson attended an event for Wilson's Nike shoes.
Wilson is a four-time WNBA MVP.
Mentioned in this story
South Carolina women's basketballDawn Staley
A'ja WilsonJerzy Robinson
A'ja Wilson's dad says South Carolina signee Jerzy Robinson is 'a brilliant addition'
The 6-foot-4 center played for coach Dawn Staley from 2014-18 before becoming the WNBA's first four-time MVP. Her second wave of her new Nike signature shoes release was May 2. Foot Locker hosted an event in Wilson's home city to launch the "A'Twos" and Robinson, an incoming freshman and the No. 6 recruit in the Class of 2026, was a special guest.
Wilson has played in Las Vegas since the Aces selected her with the first overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She's often celebrated in her hometown even if she can't be there in person.
Her father, Roscoe, however was in attendance and is impressed with Staley's new 6-foot guard.
"She has size, she can guard a three, a two, or a one so I think it's a brilliant addition," Roscoe Wilson said of Robinson. "And her shooting mobility, it's a piece of cake."
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts with Joyce Edwards #8 in the game against the TCU Horned Frogs during the fourth quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Q&A
Who is Jerzy Robinson and what is her significance to South Carolina women's basketball?
Jerzy Robinson is a 6-foot-4 center and the No. 6 recruit in the Class of 2026, recently signed to South Carolina women's basketball, where she is expected to make a significant impact.
What did A'ja Wilson's dad say about Jerzy Robinson?
A'ja Wilson's dad described Jerzy Robinson as a 'brilliant addition' to the South Carolina women's basketball team.
What event did Jerzy Robinson attend related to A'ja Wilson?
Jerzy Robinson attended an event hosted by Foot Locker in Wilson's hometown to celebrate the launch of Wilson's new Nike signature shoes.
What are the achievements of A'ja Wilson in her basketball career?
A'ja Wilson is a WNBA player who became the league's first four-time MVP and has been celebrated for her contributions to women's basketball.
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TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 04: Chloe Kitts #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates after beating the Texas Longhorns 74-57 in the Final Four game of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on April 04, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Apr 3, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Tessa Johnson (5) celebrates after defeating the UConn Huskies during a semifinal of the Final Four of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - DECEMBER 08: Ashlyn Watkins #2 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drives against Aaliyah Roberson #23 of the TCU Horned Frogs during the second half in the USLBM Coast to Coast Challenge Hoopfest Women’s Basketball Classic at Dickies Arena on December 08, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
South Carolina Gamecocks guard Agot Makeer (44) celebrates their 62-48 win over the Connecticut Huskies in their NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 3, 2026.
Mar 30, 2026; Sacramento, CA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Maddy McDaniel (1) pushes the ball up the court during the first quarter of the game against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs in an Elite Eight game in the Sacramento Regional 4 of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at the Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Alicia Tournebize #31 of the South Carolina Gamecocks brings the ball up the court against the TCU Horned Frogs during the first quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 25: Adhel Tac #15 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts in the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores during their game at Colonial Life Arena on January 25, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Ayla McDowell (24) drives against the Southern Jaguars in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
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Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts with Joyce Edwards #8 in the game against the TCU Horned Frogs during the fourth quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts with Joyce Edwards #8 in the game against the TCU Horned Frogs during the fourth quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 04: Chloe Kitts #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates after beating the Texas Longhorns 74-57 in the Final Four game of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on April 04, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
Apr 3, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Tessa Johnson (5) celebrates after defeating the UConn Huskies during a semifinal of the Final Four of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - DECEMBER 08: Ashlyn Watkins #2 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drives against Aaliyah Roberson #23 of the TCU Horned Frogs during the second half in the USLBM Coast to Coast Challenge Hoopfest Women’s Basketball Classic at Dickies Arena on December 08, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
South Carolina Gamecocks guard Agot Makeer (44) celebrates their 62-48 win over the Connecticut Huskies in their NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 3, 2026.
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Maddy McDaniel, South Carolina women's basketball guard for Gamecocks, Dawn Staley
Mar 30, 2026; Sacramento, CA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Maddy McDaniel (1) pushes the ball up the court during the first quarter of the game against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs in an Elite Eight game in the Sacramento Regional 4 of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at the Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
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Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Alicia Tournebize #31 of the South Carolina Gamecocks brings the ball up the court against the TCU Horned Frogs during the first quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 25: Adhel Tac #15 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts in the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores during their game at Colonial Life Arena on January 25, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Ayla McDowell (24) drives against the Southern Jaguars in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Jerzy Robinson talks about South Carolina
Robinson grew up in Phoenix before moving to Los Angeles to take advantage of NIL opportunities in high school in California because NIL wasn't yet legal for high school athletes in Arizona. She went to Sierra Canyon and in three seasons became the school's all-time leading scorer.
In 2024, Robinson signed her own NIL deal with Nike.
"I mean Columbia has a huge basketball community which is amazing," Robinson told the crowd. "I will be West Coast kid till I die so coming to the East Coast is gonna be new (but) is gonna be really fun for me. Also playing under Coach Dawn I think there's so much that you'll learn from her off the court, on the court, in life, especially as a Black woman, taking over the women's basketball game, but just society as a whole, and then playing with my teammates wearing the garnet and black and representing playing for some bigger than myself."
Robinson said she first heard from Staley when she was just 14 but couldn't quite grasp what that meant at the time.
"But fast forward to today I chose to come be a part of the program, which is one of the best decisions I've ever made," Robinson said.
South Carolina is switching from Under Armour to Nike as its official uniform supplier for the university starting July 1. A unique part of the new contract is an A'ja Wilson clause, which states that the Gamecocks will get "A'Twos" and other perks related to Wilson's relationship with Nike.
"I'm super excited to be a part of the women's game right now. I think she's at the head, the front of it, she's pioneering a great way for us," Robinson said of Wilson.
Wilson was inducted to the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame the same weekend Robinson took her official visit.
"The people of Columbia, they just showed love," Robinson said. "A'ja was on my visit with me, and it was genuine. It was a genuine love that I felt the moment I sat on campus."
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
