South Carolina’s 2027 Recruiting Board: Where the Gamecocks Stand After the Summer Live Period
The July live evaluation period has officially wrapped up, bringing an end to one of the busiest stretches on the recruiting calendar. With the major travel circuits crowning their champions, coaches now enter the NCAA dead period, meaning August will be relatively quiet before recruiting activity ramps back up when the contact period returns in September.
While a handful of commitments and recruiting developments have reshaped portions of the 2027 class since this board debuted in April, the overall landscape remains largely unchanged. That isn’t unusual. Most elite prospects are still taking their time before narrowing their choices, with official visits expected to become the biggest storyline heading into the fall.
1. Kaleena “KK” Smith | 5-foot-5 | Point Guard
Offer/Interest: Yes/Yes
Few prospects deserve to be described as truly generational, but Smith continues to separate herself from the rest of the 2027 class. Her rare combination of playmaking, scoring ability and leadership has made her one of the nation’s most coveted recruits. Unsurprisingly, she’s keeping her recruitment extremely private, giving little indication of where she ultimately leans.
June update: Nothing to report.
July update: Reports have connected Smith with several upcoming visits, although she has yet to publicly confirm any plans. At the moment, the momentum between Smith and South Carolina appears to have cooled.
2. Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka | 6-foot-1 | Wing
Offer/Interest: Yes/Yes
Wilson-Manyacka remains one of South Carolina’s top priorities. Her size, defensive versatility and physical style perfectly match the profile Dawn Staley has consistently targeted throughout her tenure. Even with heavy national attention, her recruitment remains wide open.
June update: No movement.
July update: Still no movement.
Analysis: She continues to look like one of the most realistic elite wing targets on South Carolina’s board, and the Gamecocks remain firmly in the conversation.
3. Haylen Ayers | 6-foot | Guard
Offer/Interest: Yes/No
Ayers released her top five schools last October, and South Carolina wasn’t included.
June update: Unchanged.
July update: Unchanged.
Analysis: Unless something unexpected changes, the Gamecocks appear to be out of this recruitment.
4. Jezelle “GG” Banks | 5-foot-9 | Point Guard
Offer/Interest: Yes/Yes
Banks continues to strengthen her standing among the nation’s elite point guards. While much of the spotlight has focused on Smith, Banks has quietly built an impressive résumé and remains highly valued by South Carolina. In fact, the Gamecocks identified her talent well before she climbed into the national top-five rankings.
June update: No change.
July update: Banks helped Washington win the Shooting Stars competition during WNBA All-Star Weekend by knocking down the game-winning shot. She also confirmed to On3 that she plans to take official visits to South Carolina, LSU, Texas and Ohio State.
Analysis: Securing an official visit is significant. South Carolina remains one of the strongest contenders, but competition will be intense throughout the fall.
5. Jordyn Palmer | 6-foot-1 | Wing
Offer/Interest: Yes/Yes
Palmer may not receive as much national attention as some other wings in the class, but her offensive upside continues to impress. She has developed into one of the premier scoring threats among 2027 prospects while maintaining versatility on both ends of the floor.
June update: No change.
July update: Palmer told On3 she has official visits scheduled with South Carolina and Ohio State in September.
Analysis: Landing one of Palmer’s first official visits gives South Carolina an important opportunity to strengthen its position before her recruitment enters its final stages.
6. Caroline Bradley | 6-foot-5 | Post
Offer/Interest: Yes/No
Bradley committed to LSU in early April, ending her recruitment well before most top prospects in the class.
7. Micah Ojo | 6-foot | Wing
Offer/Interest: Yes/Yes
Ojo may still be developing compared to some of the higher-ranked wings, but her athletic ceiling remains extremely intriguing. South Carolina values versatile players who can defend multiple positions, making her an attractive option.
June update: No change.
July update: No change.
Analysis: The Gamecocks likely won’t take multiple wings in this cycle, making Ojo’s recruitment one worth watching closely as official visits begin.
8. Eve Long | 6-foot-3 | Forward
Offer/Interest: Yes/No
Long previously excluded South Carolina from her top five.
June update: She committed to Notre Dame.
9. Ryan Carter | 6-foot | Wing
Offer/Interest: No/No
There has been no indication that South Carolina has extended an offer.
June update: Unchanged.
July update: Unchanged.
10. Nation Williams | 6-foot-2 | Forward
Offer/Interest: Yes/Yes
Williams announced a top-10 list earlier this year without South Carolina.
June/July updates: No change.
Analysis: Unless recruiting dynamics shift considerably, this appears to be another recruitment moving away from Columbia.
11. Sydney Savoury | 5-foot-11 | Guard
Offer/Interest: Yes/Yes
Family ties to both Michigan and Michigan State naturally create intrigue around Savoury’s recruitment.
June update: No change.
July update: Savoury narrowed her finalists to Duke, North Carolina, UCLA, UConn, Notre Dame and Texas.
Analysis: South Carolina is no longer among her primary options.
12. Jemini Mitchell | 6-foot-1 | Wing
Offer/Interest: No/No
Mitchell attended the same high school as current Gamecock Ayla McDowell before transferring to Legion Prep. Despite that connection, South Carolina has never seriously entered the picture.
June/July updates: No change.
13. Lauren Hassell | 6-foot-3 | Guard
Offer/Interest: No/No
June update: Hassell committed to Vanderbilt in late May.
14. Miciah Fusilier | 6-foot-4 | Forward
Offer/Interest: No/No
Fusilier committed to Baylor in February.
15. Qandace Samuels | 6-foot-2 | Forward
Offer/Interest: No/No
Samuels has remained one of the quieter prospects in the class, revealing very little about her recruitment.
June/July updates: No change.
16. Sydney Mobley | 6-foot-2 | Forward
Offer/Interest: Yes/No
South Carolina initially made Mobley’s early list of contenders before her recruitment shifted dramatically after deciding to enroll early.
June update: She reduced her finalists to Ohio State, Illinois and Virginia Tech.
July update: Mobley committed to Ohio State on July 3 and will enroll during the 2026-27 academic year.
17. De’Andra Minor | 6-foot | Guard
Offer/Interest: No/No
Little recruiting activity has surfaced involving Minor and South Carolina.
June/July updates: No change.
18. Jayla Forbes | 6-foot-7 | Post
Offer/Interest: No/No
Forbes remains a long-term developmental prospect whose size makes her an intriguing project.
July update: Forbes committed to Texas on July 16.
19. Avery Arije | 6-foot | Guard
Offer/Interest: Yes/Yes
Arije’s connection to Crestwood Prep—the same Canadian program that produced Agot Makeer—creates a natural link between her and South Carolina.
June update: Although the exact timing remains unclear, South Carolina has offered Arije. She also placed the Gamecocks among her top six, giving the relationship added credibility.
July update: No change.
Analysis: With existing program familiarity through Makeer, South Carolina may have a stronger foundation here than many competing schools.
20. Cece Arico | 5-foot-11 | Guard
Offer/Interest: Yes/Yes
As the daughter of Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico, Cece’s recruitment continues to generate curiosity over whether she’ll stay home or choose another path.
June/July updates: No change.
21. Taylor Brown | 5-foot-7 | Point Guard
Offer/Interest: Yes/Yes
Brown initially appeared to be a secondary point guard option behind Smith and Banks.
June update: South Carolina offered Brown in late May, signaling she has become a much bigger priority than previously believed.
July update: No change.
Analysis: Offering Brown despite already pursuing elite point guards suggests the coaching staff sees her as a legitimate fit rather than simply a contingency plan.
22. Madi Mignery | 6-foot | Wing
Offer/Interest: No/No
South Carolina continues focusing its efforts elsewhere.
June/July updates: No change.
23. Ashley MacCalla | 6-foot | Wing
Offer/Interest: No/No
The Gamecocks remain focused on other wing prospects.
June/July updates: No change.
24. Saniyah Murray | 6-foot-4 | Post
Offer/Interest: No/No
South Carolina has prioritized different post players throughout this cycle.
June update: Murray announced a top six featuring Alabama, Florida, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and North Carolina.
July update: No change.
25. Khalia Hartwell | 6-foot-4 | Post
Offer/Interest: No/No
Although Hartwell is South Carolina’s highest-ranked in-state player in the class, neither side has demonstrated strong recruiting momentum.
June update: No change.
July update: Hartwell scheduled a visit to Iowa.
26. Kie’Aundria Acree | 6-foot-1 | Wing
Offer/Interest: Yes/Yes
South Carolina identified Acree’s talent early, extending an offer while she was still in middle school. Although attention has shifted toward other prospects, the relationship remains active.
July update: Acree made an unofficial visit to Rutgers and scheduled official visits to Missouri and Mississippi State.
27. Harper Dunn | 6-foot-6 | Post
Offer/Interest: No/No
Dunn continues to attract interest because of her size and long-term potential.
July update: Visits are planned to Michigan and Oklahoma, while South Carolina does not appear to be actively involved.
28. Jessie Moses | 5-foot-9 | Guard
Offer/Interest: Yes/No
Moses once shared the floor with Jordyn Palmer, leading to genuine early interest from South Carolina, but both sides have since gone in different directions.
June/July updates: No change.
29. Jordan Speller | 5-foot-6 | Point Guard
Offer/Interest: No/No
There is currently no indication of mutual recruiting interest.
June/July updates: No change.
30. Destiny Manyawu | 6-foot-3 | Forward
Offer/Interest: No/No
Neither South Carolina nor Manyawu appears to be actively pursuing the relationship.
June/July updates: No change.
Analysis: Where South Carolina’s Class Stands
As the recruiting calendar enters its quiet phase, South Carolina’s 2027 board remains remarkably focused. Rather than casting a wide net, Dawn Staley and her staff have concentrated on a select group of elite prospects, particularly Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka, Jezelle “GG” Banks, Jordyn Palmer, Micah Ojo, Avery Arije and Taylor Brown.
The most encouraging development is that several of those top targets remain uncommitted and have official visits either scheduled or expected this fall. That gives South Carolina a legitimate opportunity to strengthen its position once recruits begin returning to campus in September.
While a few priority targets have committed elsewhere or removed the Gamecocks from contention, the core of South Carolina’s recruiting strategy remains intact. The dead period may temporarily slow public recruiting news, but the upcoming official visit season is likely to determine how successful the Gamecocks’ 2027 class ultimately becomes.
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