USC

'Settling in': South Carolina's Laeticia Amihere finds rhythm in SEC Tourney opener

Cory Diaz
Greenville News
USC forward Laeticia Amihere goes to the basket as Arkansas' Sasha Goforth (13) and Rylee Langerman (11) defend on Friday in Nashville, Tenn.

NASHVILLE – Laeticia Amihere caught the pass, turned and faced her defender.

After a brief pause, the long and athletic junior stepped to the left, only taking two dribbles to reach the basket where she went up and finished the layup.

Next possession, Amihere worked her way to the paint, backing her opponent up and calling for the ball the whole time. Guards Destanni Henderson, Brea Beal and Zia Cooke work the ball around perimeter before it's dished inside the Amihere. 

Like a true post player, the 6-foot-4 Amihere put her defender in a blender, spinning and going up strong in the lane for the finish.

But that's just it. Amihere isn't a true post player.

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As South Carolina coach Dawn Staley put it after the team's 76-54 win over Arkansas in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals at Bridgestone Arena: "She really is a guard."

What the Canadian displayed in the team's SEC tournament opener was a conglomerate of what she's capable of and how she can contribute to this team as it gears up for a national championship run.

It's also a byproduct of weeks of Staley and her staff having her fill various roles at a few different positions.

"We put her in a mixer so to speak," Staley said. "She started off the year playing the four spot. (Point guard Destanni Henderson) got hurt early and we moved her to the point guard position. When Henny came back, we moved her back to the four. Then she ended up going with her Canadian national team. She's had to adjust to being in different positions and places.

"I think now, things are just settling in. Going back with her national team helped her mentality but it hindered being with our team. Now she's slowing down and things are getting clearer to her. Now she's able to utilize her entire skill set. She's long, she's athletic. She can do a lot of things with a basketball. I think when she takes her time and let the game come to her – she's got a guard mentality. She really is a guard but it's unfortunate that we can't play her at all the various spots this season."

A lengthy frame with a guard's mentality, the switching has been taxing. And it's effected her consistency and efficiency. She started the three games at point guard while Destanni Henderson missed due to injury while spending most of the season at the four.

Throw on top of that her being away from the South Carolina team for a couple of weeks, playing with the Canadian National Team in FIBA, the level of adjusting Amihere has endured this season has been noticeable.

"Coach has been telling me I've been floating around," Amihere said following the game Friday. "I wanted to harp on that today, posting up a lot more. I've got to work on my finishing but I'm proud of how much I posted up.

"I never know what position I'm going to play. Who am I getting? It could be anybody. But being ready whenever my name is called. I'll go in wit the guards and post players. that really helps me stay focused on both positions whenever my name is called for whichever. Just stepping into my role. the rotation is tough. We have some of the best players in the country."

To stay ready, Amihere studied almost the entire scouting report on South Carolina's upcoming opponent, prepping to defend just about everyone on the court. She watches not only herself during film but also Aliyah Boston, Victaria Saxton, Brea Beal and the rest of the starters.

The work manifested for 16 points, which was second-most for USC, along with six rebounds. It was the most he's scored since November — Amihere hadn't scored in double figures since December.

Boston said Amihere pushes the team in practice with her ability to defend multiple positions as well as score in varying ways.

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Now that she feels completely re-acclimated with the team, the forward aims to be the force she was against Arkansas for the remainder of the SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament.

"I'm getting there. It's had to show out every day," Amihere said. "I feel like I need to work on my consistency. But I'm showing spurts of where I want to be."

Cory Diaz covers the South Carolina Gamecocks for The Greenville News as part of the USA Today Network. Follow his work for all things Gamecocks on Twitter: @CoryDiaz_TGN