COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina's Kamilla Cardoso has been content the past two years to come off the bench behind one of college basketball's best in All-American teammate Aliyah Boston.
Now, with Boston excelling in the WNBA, it is up to the 6-foot-7 Cardoso to take her place front and center for the Gamecocks.
“Kamilla," coach Dawn Staley said after practice, "has got to be dominant.”
If she is, look for the sixth-ranked Gamecocks, long on talent yet short on experience, to contend for more titles going forward.
Cardoso gave a preview of what's ahead in an exhibition against Rutgers on Oct. 22. She hit eight of 11 shots for 17 points with five rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot in just 17 minutes of work.
“She’s putting it here," Staley said of Cardoso's practices, "the next step is to be dominant every play that she’s on the floor.”
That is a jump many have expected since the native of Brazil left her family as a middle-schooler to develop her game in the United States.
Cardoso joined Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she grew about half-a-foot, learned to speak English and attracted the attention of about every Division I powerhouse. She selected Syracuse over offers from Staley and South Carolina among others.
Cardoso was Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year in 2020-21, averaging 13.6 points, eight rebounds and nearly three blocks a game. When Cardoso left the Orange that offseason, she reconnected with Staley knowing full well she would sit behind the 6-5 Boston, who was a first-team All-American that year.
Cardoso played 1,101 minutes over 68 games the past two years at South Carolina without a start.
But she and Boston became a hard-to-stop, 1-2 punch down low. They each shot better than 54 percent from the field and combined to block 136 shots on the way to the national title in 2022.
Boston and Cardoso increased their production last season, combining for nearly 23 points and 18 rebounds a game as the Gamecocks started 36-0 before falling in the national semifinals.
Is Cardoso capable of filling the starring role for South Carolina?
Debbie Antonelli, a former standout at North Carolina State and now a veteran TV broadcaster for the women's game, said she believes Cardoso can. Cardoso has the talent to achieve bigger things, Antonelli saying “We're going to do see that more and more this season."
Cardoso's teammates have seen that growth throughout the offseason. Raven Johnson, a third-year sophomore taking over the starting point guard position, said Cardoso has asserted herself at workouts and scrimmages this fall.
“I already know what she brings to the table,” Johnson said. “I feel like this year she's going to show the world what Kamilla can do.”
Johnson confirmed that meant a few bruises for anyone who took the ball into Cardoso's area. Staley has acknowledged that she has sometimes had to stoke the fire to get Cardoso to play up to her potential as she prepares for the WNBA and international play.
Besides a strong presence under the basket, Staley said Cardoso's got to shoot more from the outside.
“She's very, very unselfish and a lot of times, much like Aliyah, will pass out to people who shoot half her field goal percentage,” Staley explained. “Can't do that. You can't. You've got to bet on yourself sometimes.”
Cardoso showcased her drive this summer, earning MVP of the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup where she averaged 10.9 points and 8.3 rebounds as she helped Brazil defeat the United States team in the finals that featured Cardoso's teammate in Johnson.
The season begins with an International flair, Cardoso and the Gamecocks traveling to Paris to face No. 10 Notre Dame on Nov. 6. Count on Cardoso to play a big role in the outcome in the City of Lights — and for the Gamecocks' prospects this season.
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AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
