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Madina Okot

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Madina Mullah
South Carolina Gamecocks
PositionCenter
LeagueSoutheastern Conference
Personal information
Born (2004-08-23) August 23, 2004 (age 20)
NationalityKenyan
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)

Madina Okot Mullah (born August 23, 2004) is a college basketball player from Kenya. As of 2025, Okot plays for the University of South Carolina. Okot has represented Kenya internationally on the country's 3x3 and 5-aside teams. In 2022, Okot was named the most promising girl at the Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year awards.

Biography

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Okot is from Mumias, Kenya.[1] Okot first played volleyball at Bishop Sulumeti High School.[2] In 2020, Okot first started playing basketball,[3] after transferring to Kaya Tiwi High School.[4] At the time, she had no knowledge of the sport.[2] Standing 6'6' or '78 inches (200 cm),[5] she soon distinguished herself on the court. At age 17, Okot was named to the Kenyan national basketball team where she competed for Kenya's FIBA 3x3 U23 team.[5] By 2022, she was recognized at the Kenyan national sporting awards as the most promising female athlete in the country at the Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year awards.

Visa issues

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In 2022, Okot's appearance playing for the 3x3 team in the 2022 Commonwealth Games caught the attention of Eastern Michigan University scouts, but visa issues prevented her from attending university in the United States.[1] Okot remained in Kenya and played university basketball for Zetech University in Kenya for two seasons while her visa issues were worked out.[6][4] That year, Okot signed for the Kenya Ports Authority team. That season, they claimed the Kenya Basketball Federation league title.[4][7]

In 2023, Okot continued to play for Zetech[8] and led the Kenya Ports Authority team to second place in the FIBA Africa Women's Basketball League and was named the Team of the Tournament.[9] That year she was the only African player to make the World Select Women's Team roster at the Nike Hoop Summit.[4][2][10] Also in 2023, Okot was named to the Kenya Lionesses 5-aside national team, where she played in the FIBA Women's AfroBasket qualifiers.[4] In a pre-qualifier to the Paris Olympics, Okot was named Most Valuable Player at the 3x3 Africa Cup competition, and won the Africa Cup.[2]

Mississippi State

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Her junior year, Okot successfully transferred to the United States after signing for Mississippi State. Her United States visa had been turned down four times before she was successful.[11][12] Head coach Sam Purcell described Okot as "the definition of a diamond in the rough".[1] In her first game, Okot made an impact early, with 14 points and 17 rebounds in her first game.[13][14] At Mississippi State, Okot distinguished herself as a standout recruit.[15] She would start every game her junior season,[16] averaging 11.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.[3] The team's top player, she blocked 38 shots and forced 46 turnovers.[16] That year, Okot led Mississippi state to the second round of the NCAA tournament.[17][18] Okot's season included 12 double-doubles, and a season best 21-point, 23-rebound game against Vanderbilt.[19][20] In April, Okot announced she was entering the transfer portal, which was cited as a major loss to Mississippi.[21]

University of South Carolina

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In between her junior and senior years, Okot announced she had transferred to the University of South Carolina to play for Dawn Staley.[3][22] Her move to South Carolina was widely reported.[23][24][6] In transferring, Okot cited her admiration for Staley,[25] South Carolina's coach, and for the opportunity for Carolina's program to produce top players for the WNBA.[26]

2025–26 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Year Previous school Hometown
G 1 Madisen McDaniel 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) So Bishop McNamara   Upper Marlboro, MD  
F 2 Ashlyn Watkins 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Sr Cardinal Newman   Columbia, SC  
G 5 Tessa Johnson 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Jr St. Michael-Albertville   Albertville, MN  
F 8 Joyce Edwards 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) So Camden   Camden, SC  
C 15 Adhel Tac 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) So South Grand Prairie   Grand Prairie, TX  
F 21 Chloe Kitts 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sr DME Academy   Oviedo, FL  
G 25 Raven Johnson 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) RS Sr Westlake   Atlanta, GA  
G 30 Maryam Dauda 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) RS Sr Bentonville  
Arkansas 		Bentonville, AR  
G tbd Ta'Niya Latson 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Sr American Heritage School  
Florida State 		Miami, FL  
G tbd Agot Makeer 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Fr Montverde Academy   Ontario, CAN  
G tbd Ayla McDowell 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Fr Cypress Springs   Cypress, TX  
C tbd Madina Okot 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Sr Mississippi State Mumias, Kenya  
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: November 18th, 2021

References

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  1. ^ a b c Faulk, Robbie (2024-10-10). "Madina Okot adapting to life in the states, SEC with Bulldogs". On3. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  2. ^ a b c d "Madina Okot's basketball odyssey". www.fiba.basketball. 2023-12-17. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  3. ^ a b c Kesin, Lulu (July 2, 2025). "How South Carolina impressed transfer Madina Okot even when Dawn Staley's team was losing". The Greenville News. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Kenyan basketball sensation Madina Okot set for US University after two-year wait for visa | MozzartSportKe". www.mozzartsport.co.ke. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  5. ^ a b Voepel, Michael (2025-04-23). "Gamecocks add another top transfer in 6-6 Okot". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  6. ^ a b Cloninger, David (2025-04-21). "Gamecock women nab another prize pickup from transfer portal". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  7. ^ "KPA extend good form in African Women Basketball League". Daily Nation. 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  8. ^ Olobulu, Timothy (2024-06-21). "USA-bound Madina Okot dazzles as Zetech silence Equity in KBF league play-off". Capital Sports. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  9. ^ "Rising Star Madina Okot continues to scale new heights | MozzartSportKe". www.mozzartsport.co.ke. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  10. ^ "Madina Okot to feature in the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit". www.michezoafrika.com. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  11. ^ AAnene, Geoffrey (2024-10-07). "Fifth time lucky: Okot chases American dream". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  12. ^ "Madina Okot Finally Secures Visa to Join Mississippi State basketball". www.michezoafrika.com. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  13. ^ Faulk, Robbie (2024-12-30). "Madina Okot making impact felt with Mississippi State". On3. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  14. ^ "Madina Okot posts double-double in Mississippi State debut | MozzartSportKe". www.mozzartsport.co.ke. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  15. ^ Rosenberg, Benjamin (2024-12-21). "Okot's career day leads Mississippi State women's basketball over UMES". The Dispatch. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  16. ^ a b "Madina Okot joins list of Lady Dogs declaring for NCAA transfer portal". 247Sports. Archived from the original on 2025-04-04. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  17. ^ "Mississippi State vs Cal in Women's NCAA Tournament: Bulldogs vs Golden Bears best photos". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  18. ^ Garcia, Carlos (2025-03-23). "MSU Women's Basketball advances in NCAA Tournament". WAPT. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  19. ^ Kesin, Lulu. "What Dawn Staley said about South Carolina adding Madina Okot, a 6-foot-6 center". The Greenville News. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  20. ^ Sklar, Sam. "Mississippi State women's basketball vs Vanderbilt final score: Madina Okot leads double OT win". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  21. ^ Sklar, Sam. "Mississippi State women's basketball starting center Madina Okot enters transfer portal". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  22. ^ Wellbaum, Chris (2025-04-22). "South Carolina women's basketball: Madina Okot is a big addition - literally and figuratively". On3. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  23. ^ "South Carolina Lands Second Player In Transfer Portal After Madina Okot Commits To The Gamecocks". South Carolina Gamecocks On SI. 2025-04-22. Archived from the original on 2025-05-12. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  24. ^ "Kenyan youngster Madina Okot joins Gamecocks in another major U.S. basketball move". Citizen Digital. 2025-04-23. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  25. ^ "Dawn Staley's Coaching Praise Continues as Gamecocks Star Credits Coach for Easing Post-Transfer Struggles". 2025-07-04. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  26. ^ Wellbaum, Chris (2025-07-01). "South Carolina women's basketball: Quick recap of Ta'Niya Latson and Madina Okot media availability". On3. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
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