South Carolina’s Four Elite 2027 Finalists: Breaking Down the Odds
South Carolina’s push for an elite 2027 recruiting class has produced four notable prospects who’ve each named the Gamecocks among their finalists. Here’s where each recruitment stands — and a realistic read on South Carolina’s chances with each.
Jezelle “GG” Banks — Finalists: Ohio State, Texas, South Carolina, LSU
Banks, the No. 4 overall prospect nationally, has arguably been South Carolina’s top target in this class for the longest stretch — the Gamecocks were interested in her well before she became a top-five recruit. She’s already completed official visits to Columbia, LSU, and Texas, giving South Carolina a real, in-person shot to make its case. Reports have consistently suggested the Gamecocks may like her even more than fellow point guard Kaleena Smith.
Estimated chance of committing to South Carolina: ~40%
Banks has genuine, long-standing mutual interest with South Carolina, and her completed visit is a strong signal. Texas and LSU remain serious competition, but South Carolina looks like a real frontrunner here.
Kaleena “KK” Smith — Finalists: Notre Dame, USC (Trojans), Tennessee, UConn
Smith, the consensus No. 1 prospect in the class and described as a “true generational talent,” has kept her recruitment notably open throughout the process. Notably, South Carolina does not appear on her finalist list at all, based on the image provided (Notre Dame, USC Trojans, Tennessee, Lady Volunteers, UConn, Arizona State, Louisville, UCLA, plus a mystery school).
Estimated chance of committing to South Carolina: ~5% or lower
With South Carolina absent from her known finalists, this recruitment appears to be over for the Gamecocks, barring a late and unexpected addition to her list.
Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka — Finalists: South Carolina, USC (Trojans), Texas, UConn, Maryland, Duke, LSU
Wilson-Manyacka, the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year and No. 2 overall recruit, was long considered a strong fit for South Carolina’s physical, defense-first identity. However, recent reporting suggests a cooling of interest: “at this point Manyacka no longer appears to be interested in South Carolina.” Despite that, South Carolina still appears on her finalist graphic.
Estimated chance of committing to South Carolina: ~15%
Once a priority target with real mutual interest, momentum appears to have shifted away from Columbia, making this one of the tougher recruitments for the Gamecocks despite technically remaining “in the mix.”
Jordyn Palmer — Finalists: Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, UCLA
Palmer, ranked in the top 10 nationally and a standout for Team USA internationally, has been described in multiple reports as having emerged as South Carolina’s “top frontcourt target.” She’s already completed her official visit to Columbia as part of the same weekend trip that included Banks.
Estimated chance of committing to South Carolina: ~40%
With South Carolina reportedly viewed as a genuine leader for her services and a completed visit already in the books, Palmer represents one of the program’s best remaining chances to land a top-tier prospect in this class.
Bottom Line
Of the four prospects, Banks and Palmer appear to give South Carolina its best realistic paths to a commitment, both sitting in the 35-40% range, while Wilson-Manyacka looks more like a longshot given reported fading interest, and Smith appears effectively out of reach with South Carolina absent from her finalist list. These percentages reflect informed estimates based on available reporting rather than official probabilities, and recruitments can shift quickly as official visits and final decisions approach this fall.
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