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Dawn keeps on rolling and gets another player from France

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rockingamecock

Joined Aug 28, 2001
Feb 2, 2022
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Justine Loubens played professionally in France, where she averaged 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds and shot 63.9%.

She also has international experience playing for the French junior teams, including playing alongside current Gamecock Alicia Tournebize.

Last summer, Loubens averaged 7.6 points and 2.7 rebounds on 49.0 percent shooting at the 2025 FIBA U18 Eurobasket. In 2024, she was France’s top scorer at 11.3 points and made 52.0 percent of her threes in the FIBA U17 World Cup. Three years ago, Loubens averaged 6.8 points and 3.5 rebounds at the 2023 FIBA U16 European Championships.

Loubens is the second French player South Carolina signed in this cycle, following forward Tournebize. Tournebize committed in December and joined the Gamecocks on January 1.

Loubens gives South Carolina five signees in the 2026 recruiting class, plus Tournebize. 6-3 forward Oliviyah Edwards flipped her commitment from Tennessee to South Carolina in April. 6-1 guard Jerzy Robinson committed in December, the day after Tournebize. Both are consensus top-six recruits. 6-2 forward Kaeli Wynn and 6-3 forward Kelsi Andrews round out the class. Wynn is a top 20 prospect, and Andrews is a top 30 player.
 
CWW

CWW

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rockingamecock said:
Justine Loubens played professionally in France, where she averaged 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds and shot 63.9%.

She also has international experience playing for the French junior teams, including playing alongside current Gamecock Alicia Tournebize.

Last summer, Loubens averaged 7.6 points and 2.7 rebounds on 49.0 percent shooting at the 2025 FIBA U18 Eurobasket. In 2024, she was France’s top scorer at 11.3 points and made 52.0 percent of her threes in the FIBA U17 World Cup. Three years ago, Loubens averaged 6.8 points and 3.5 rebounds at the 2023 FIBA U16 European Championships.

Loubens is the second French player South Carolina signed in this cycle, following forward Tournebize. Tournebize committed in December and joined the Gamecocks on January 1.

Loubens gives South Carolina five signees in the 2026 recruiting class, plus Tournebize. 6-3 forward Oliviyah Edwards flipped her commitment from Tennessee to South Carolina in April. 6-1 guard Jerzy Robinson committed in December, the day after Tournebize. Both are consensus top-six recruits. 6-2 forward Kaeli Wynn and 6-3 forward Kelsi Andrews round out the class. Wynn is a top 20 prospect, and Andrews is a top 30 player.
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Kind of surprised. Averaging 6 points is not a whole lot.
 
C

CreekSnake

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You have to look at who she’s playing against.If she’s playing against older players 6 pts is understandable.If she’s averaging 6 against players her age it might be problematic.
 
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Skuddy

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I think this pick up is more about keeping Tournebize than anything else.

Even though she only averages around 6 points, her shooting percentage is very high. I don't know if these are lay ups but if they are, maybe she can teach the other girls on the team how to make them. If these are actual shots away from the rim then maybe Dawn can make her into something.
 
P

Piscis

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Skuddy said:
I think this pick up is more about keeping Tournebize than anything else.

Even though she only averages around 6 points, her shooting percentage is very high. I don't know if these are lay ups but if they are, maybe she can teach the other girls on the team how to make them. If these are actual shots away from the rim then maybe Dawn can make her into something.
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If the shooting percentage is high and the points are low, it would appear that she isn't taking many shots.

Maybe she is Tournebize girlfriend?
 
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CreekSnake

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Piscis said:
If the shooting percentage is high and the points are low, it would appear that she isn't taking many shots.

Maybe she is Tournebize girlfriend?
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You’re not supposed to say that.
My question is when you have 2 people in a relationship on the same team does it cause locker room problems.What if others question whether one lover is passing too much to the other at the exclusion of others.
I coached girls basketball.Managing the locker room can be difficult at times.
 
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adcoop

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CWW said:
Kind of surprised. Averaging 6 points is not a whole lot.
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In Europe, kids play professionally much earlier. They sit the bench and they learn. Some are on professional teams as young as 14. For reference, Tournebize averaged 3 points a game on her club team.
 
vacock

vacock

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In other words, not much playing time.
 
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adcoop

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gamecockengineer2011 said:
I trust Dawn to know what shes doing with recruiting players, particularly when it comes to guards.
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Dawn, as always, is going to be ahead of the curve when it comes to basketball. She sees that France, of all the International programs, is getting the closest to the United States. Both the men and women lost the Gold Medal Game to the United States. The Women's game was a one point game. So, Dawn is dipping into the players that are being brought up in the French Youth Program. Kim Mulkey just did something similar getting a player from Spain. Even though Tournebize only averaged 4 points a game for us this year, you can see her potential with the footwork in the post and the ability to stretch the floor. She just has to get stronger and slow her game down. Realize she is the tallest player on the floor and no one can get to her shot. If Loubens exhibits any of the potential that Tournebize has already shown, this is a good get.
 
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Skuddy

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Piscis said:
If the shooting percentage is high and the points are low, it would appear that she isn't taking many shots.

Maybe she is Tournebize girlfriend?
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I have no idea about girlfriend, but it would seem to make things easier to have someone from your country on the team and going through the same things as you are.
 
KingWard

KingWard

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The upside will have to be revealed in the fullness of time because it surely ain't evident now.
 
PrestonyteParrot

PrestonyteParrot

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DEI or whatever disguise acronym is now being used to achieve team chemistry is a possibility 🤷‍♂️
 
vacock

vacock

Joined Oct 26, 1998 • Garnet Trust Supporter
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Either it’s wrong or it’s not. Which is it?
 
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adcoop

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KingWard said:
The upside will have to be revealed in the fullness of time because it surely ain't evident now.
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If you are talking about Ally, She showed way more than Kitts did when she came in early. Kitts was just a garbage time player in her first year and you see how she has turned out. Ally had moments in the guts of big games. Have to look at the potential for a young player instead of just looking at numbers. i am excited for Ally's progress. She has everything except a little bulk to be successful. Go back and look at her in the Oklahoma(1st Game), Ms. State, and Tennessee games. Just needs to slow her game down a tad and gain confidence with reps. I doubt you will see her full potential until the 2028 season. Getting minutes at the 4 and 5 position is going to be rough next season.
 
KingWard

KingWard

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adcoop said:
If you are talking about Ally, She showed way more than Kitts did when she came in early. Kitts was just a garbage time player in her first year and you see how she has turned out. Ally had moments in the guts of big games. Have to look at the potential for a young player instead of just looking at numbers. i am excited for Ally's progress. She has everything except a little bulk to be successful. Go back and look at her in the Oklahoma(1st Game), Ms. State, and Tennessee games. Just needs to slow her game down a tad and gain confidence with reps. I doubt you will see her full potential until the 2028 season. Getting minutes at the 4 and 5 position is going to be rough next season.
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Loubens. Definitely a wait and see situation.
 
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