Brea Beal

Beal was born on November 8, 2000, to Kevin Beal and Nicole Adamson.[1][2] She grew up training for basketball under the guidance of her father, who played for UTEP at the collegiate level, and drew inspiration from Maya Moore.[3] She also took part in gymnastics and swimming before focusing on basketball.[4] In eighth grade, Beal joined the Midwest Elite Amateur Athletic Union program.[5] She made local headlines as one of the top eighth-grade players in the country.[6] Beal played basketball for Rock Island High School in her hometown of Rock Island, Illinois.[3] In her first high school season, she was the only freshman on the team and averaged 16.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, leading Rock Island to a 29–4 record.[5]

As a sophomore, Beal averaged 20.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 3.1 assists per game, helping her team achieve a 31–2 record and reach the sectional final. She joined Candace Parker and Tamika Catchings as the only sophomores to be named Illinois Miss Basketball,[7] and became the second sophomore with Parker to win Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year.[8] In her junior season, Beal averaged 21.9 points, 10 rebounds, 3.3 assists and three blocks per game, leading Rock Island to its third consecutive Class 4A sectional runner-up finish. She repeated as Illinois Miss Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year.[9][10] As a senior, Beal averaged 24.9 points, 13.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.4 blocks and 3.4 steals per game, as her team finished with a 30–2 record and won its first sectional title since 1991. She was named Illinois Miss Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year for a third straight season, joining Candace Parker as the only three-time recipients of either award,[11][12] and was selected as Quad-City Times Female Athlete of the Year.[4] Beal earned first-team All-American recognition from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and played in the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic.[13] She finished her career as the all-time leading scorer in the Western Big 6 Conference.[14]

In her freshman season at South Carolina, Beal became a regular starter due to her defensive ability. Her team was ranked number one in the nation and had a 32–1 record before the 2020 NCAA tournament was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] As a freshman, she averaged 6.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.[17] On January 18, 2021, Beal scored a career-high 22 points against Arkansas.[18] She helped South Carolina reach the Final Four of the 2021 NCAA tournament.[19] As a sophomore, Beal averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.[20] In her junior season, she helped South Carolina win the national championship,[21] recording 12 points against Louisville in the Final Four.[22]

After her sophomore year of college, Beal signed a name, image and likeness deal with Cameo.[20] She is in a relationship with National Football League player and South Carolina alum Jaycee Horn.[23]

• South Carolina Gamecocks bio