Aliyah Boston is yet another product of Dawn Staley's sustained excllence in 15 seasons as South Carolina women's basketball coach.
And while Staley has churned out A'ja Wilson, Destanni Henderson and many others during her time in Columbia, Boston stands out.
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She always has, too, not only because of her unmatched stat lines, but also because of her rotation of brightly colored braids and shoes, and her height. She's one of the tallest players on the women's side of the NCAA Tournament.
Boston is a heavily decorated athlete, and the awards began rolling in even before she made her collegiate debut.
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The 21-year-old senior from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, by way of Worcester (Mass.) Academy will, without a doubt, go down as a Gamecocks legend. Here's what to know about the center and just how accomplished she has been in her four years.
How tall is Aliyah Boston?
Boston is 6-5. She's not the tallest player on the South Carolina roster — Kamila Cardoso is 6-7 — but she is above average.
Heights on the South Carolina roster range from 5-8 to 6-7. Here's how she compares to her teammates, listed from shortest to tallest:
| Player | Height |
|---|---|
| Olivia Thompson | 5-8 |
| Raven Johnson | 5-8 |
| Kierra Fletcher | 5-9 |
| Zia Cooke | 5-9 |
| Talaysia Cooper | 6-0 |
| Bree Hall | 6-0 |
| Brea Beal | 6-1 |
| Victaria Saxton | 6-2 |
| Chloe Kitts | 6-2 |
| Sania Feagin | 6-3 |
| Ashlyn Watkins | 6-3 |
| Laeticia Amihere | 6-4 |
| Aliyah Boston | 6-6 |
| Kamilla Cardoso | 6-7 |
Boston was also the second-tallest player listed in ESPN's preseason ranking of the top 25 women's college basketball players in the nation.
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When will Aliyah Boston go to the WNBA?
Boston has an extra year of eligibility remaining because of the COVID-19 pandemic and has told the Greenville (S.C.) News that she hasn't ruled out returning for the 2023-24 season.
Another thing impacting her decision is name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities. Her annual NIL value is estimated at $104,000 by On3, more than what she would make as a rookie in the WNBA by a lot.
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Boston has been able to partner with companies like Bose, Bojangles, Under Armour, OrangeTheory Fitness and Crocs footwear. She also has a Cameo account.
"You don’t really have to do anything (in college) except hoop, go to school and make money," she said. "In the real world, all of the sudden everything is coming at you, so I think it plays a major decision."
While Boston may need to think more, Staley is all in on her going pro. For the coach, it's a no-brainer, even if she would like another season with the star. Staley told the Greenville News that she thinks Boston is ready for more one-on-one play in the WNBA; in college, she's facing junk defenses.
MORE: What is Iowa star Caitlin Clark's plan for next season?
Aliyah Boston stats, honors
Career stats
| Season | GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | PPG | RPG | APG | BPG | SPG |
| 2019-20 | 33 | 0.608 | 0.167 | 0.738 | 12.5 | 9.4 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 1.3 |
| 2020-21 | 31 | 0.485 | 0.265 | 0.764 | 13.7 | 11.5 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 1.2 |
| 2021-22 | 37 | 0.542 | 0.292 | 0.771 | 16.8 | 12.5 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 1.2 |
| 2022-23 | 34 | 0.565 | 0.118 | 0.750 | 13.1 | 9.7 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.5 |
| Career | 135 | 0.547 | 0.246 | 0.758 | 14.1 | 10.8 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 1.0 |
Career honors
Wooden Award winner (2022)
Naismith College Player of the Year (2022)
Associated Press National Player of the Year (2022)
Three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American (2021, 2022, 2023)
Three-time Associated Press and USBWA first-team All-American (2021, 2022, 2023)
Two-time WBCA first-team All-American (2021, 2022)
Two-time SEC Player of the Year (2022, 2023)
SEC Female Athlete of the Year (2022)
Three-time Lisa Leslie Award winner (center of the year) (2020, 2021, 2022)
Honda Cup Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year (2022)
Four-time first-team All-SEC (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Four-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2022)
SEC Tournament MVP (2021, 2023)
SEC Freshman of the Year (2020)
McDonald's All-American (2019)
