Bone bolts for home
If, in fact, Kelsey Bone, was eager to join a winner and get closer to home, the ex-South Carolina star achieved both in transferring to Texas A&M.
The question that remains unanswered is why she came to South Carolina in the first place. The 6-foot-5 center from Houston, the No. 2 recruit in the nation in the class of 2009, said all the right things after signing with the Gamecocks about wanting to help Dawn Staley build a winning program.
Bone barely got the foundation poured before pulling up stakes and heading back to Texas.
Bone told the Houston Chronicle she had a “great year” at USC. In her lone season at USC, Bone was the SEC’s Newcomer of the Year after leading the league in rebounding and finishing in the top 10 in scoring.
But Bone could not lead the Gamecocks to the NCAA tournament. A late-season slide meant USC did not qualify for the less prestigious WNIT, either.
Staley suggested that Bone’s decision stemmed in part from her frustration that USC was at home in March. Meanwhile, teams like A&M and Baylor – featuring freshman center Brittney Griner, who was the nation’s No. 1 recruit Bone’s senior year – were dancing.
Bone still has not spoken to the South Carolina media. But in the Texas A&M release announcing her transfer Thursday, she indicated she was happy to be home.
“I’m a Texan born and raised through and through,” said Bone, whose mother moved to Columbia when Bone enrolled at USC. “I felt it was the best decision for me to transfer and come home to be closer to my family. The Texas A&M coaches were still waiting for me with open arms.”
Aggies coach Gary Blair, who had recruited Bone since she was a seventh-grader, recalled the “heartbreak” the entire A&M community felt when Bone announced for USC last year during the McDonald’s All-American Game. He called her transfer a testament to his program’s “close-knit family” atmosphere.
“There is an unbelievable amount of pressure on the elite athletes to make the right decision at the age of 17, and sometimes, it just doesn’t work out. Sometimes your priorities change,” Blair said in the release.
“The state of Texas is a special place. I’m not so sure if homesickness is the right word. Kelsey has deeps roots in this state that come from playing alongside young ladies she has grown up with and playing in front of friends and family. Those roots are very special.”
Bone’s transplanted roots apparently never took to South Carolina’s sandy soil.
9 Comments to “Bone bolts for home”
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USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season. He's been on the college football beat since 1993. 
that is so texan(Im texan through and though)texans dont do well outside of texas. a&m is a cult university ive been there many times and i live in houston…a&m is scary, i wont let my kids go there if we live here when they go to college…please GOD get me back to the south east, texas is bazaro world..two things are good here…mild winters and good tex-mex food, but i would rather have some good shrimp and grits..GO COCKS
Good bye and good riddance Bone-head. When your momma has to move to the city where you are going to college, you know you have a problem! Momma probably got home-sick, was PO’d that her “money maker” wasn’t getting enough National Press and persuaded her to return to Texas where she will get the recognition. Hey dummy: if you’re going to transfer anywhere, then try UCONN. Maybe someone will remember you in 2 years; but probably NOTT!!!
in the end we will be ok…no player will ever in any sport be bigger then this university…we have a great coach and coaching staff who will get great players here…this years tempo will be fast pace just the way i like it…
good luck to kelsey…i hope we play texas a and m in the future and give them a butt whipping south carolina and sec style…
WE R THE FIGHTING GAMECOCKS AND WE NEVER GIVE UP!!!
GOOO COCKS!!!!
Top ranked players wnat to play at the top rated schools. They dream of playing for National Cham pionships and that does not happen in Columbia. A recent blog listed thje top 10 players that had made the worst commitments of Colleges to play football. Marcus Lattimore was the Number One selection by commiting to South Carolina. At least Kelsey Bone realized her mistake and transerred to a school that would allow her a chance to fullfill her dreams.
Hay Bubba Texas A&M has never won a national championship either. And with Staley I’m willing to bet we will be better than them in two years. An as for Lattimore he is the what this team needed we will win the east next year. I’m sorry Clemson sucks but don’t take it out on the Gamecocks.
Bubba: I know a sheep farm in NJ where you can continue fulfilling your dreams.
Looks like Bone is officially under the bus… that’s all for today… you stay classy, Columbia!
Hey Bubba…..get home and get your chores done…and if i’ve told you once i’ve told you 1000 times stop playing with your mamma/sister’s computer…
Yes, it’s kind of sad, but maybe it will work out best for both parties. Good luck to Kelsey + team!