SIU's Towering Sophomore Center with Rebounding Grit and Block Potential
Southern Illinois sophomore Mia Gaines, a 6-4 Chicago native, flashed big promise in her 2024-25 freshman year, averaging 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 10.6 minutes across 27 games while ranking second on the team with 1.4 offensive boards per game and swatting 0.9 blocks—highlighted by a 14-point, 8-rebound explosion vs. Indiana State and four-block games. Her high school dominance (14.1 PPG, 12.3 RPG over 58 games at Hyde Park) screams untapped upside; early 2025-26 stats (1.2 PPG, 1.7 RPG) suggest limited minutes, but her physicality, motor on the glass, and rim protection make her a high-upside fit for teams needing frontcourt depth and development.
