GG Banks Commits to South Carolina
Top-five 2027 point guard Jezelle “GG” Banks has committed to the Gamecocks, giving Dawn Staley the true point guard she needed. She joins Taylor Brown, her former teammate, in the class.
A major need filled
South Carolina has signed only one high school point guard since Raven Johnson in 2021. That player, Maddy McDaniel, left the program in August 2026, so Staley has no true point guards on the 2026-27 roster. The 2027 class now has two, starting with Brown, but the article says South Carolina needed Banks specifically.
Her profile
- She is the consensus second-best point guard in the 2027 class and would be the top-ranked player in most years.
- At 5-10, she has good size, which should let her play off the ball in smaller lineups.
- Staley often has freshman point guards play off the ball early while they gain experience. If Banks is asked to do that, the writer says she should still thrive.
Another “big birdie”?
When Johnson committed, she told Staley a “big birdie” was flying into the nest. The writer says Banks has the same kind of bravado.
Evidence from the big stages:
- Banks and top-ranked Kaleena Smith took turns running Team USA at the 2026 U18 AmeriCup, and both lived up to their reputations.
- At WNBA All-Star Weekend, she competed in the Shooting Stars event and hit the winning shot for the Washington team.
The writer concludes that if there is a stage too big for Banks, she hasn’t found it yet.
GG or KK?
The consensus has barely changed since rankings began: Banks is No. 2 at point guard behind Kaleena “KK” Smith, a “true generational prospect” who has been the class’s top overall prospect since middle school.
Smith:
- An elite scorer who finishes at the rim, hits pull-ups and drains threes
- Only 5-6, but her quickness and step-back jumper create space
- Similar in size and skill to Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo
Banks:
- Also an outstanding scorer, though not quite at Smith’s level
- More well-rounded: she crashes the glass, plays defense and is a bit more pass-first
A recent game between St. James and Ontario Christian shows the difference. Smith scored 40 points, but Banks scored 24 and assisted on the go-ahead basket to win it.
The writer’s verdict: Smith deserves to be the top-ranked player, but for what South Carolina likes to do, Banks is probably the better fit.
What it means
- The point guard hole is filled. After going without a true point guard in 2026-27, the program now has a pipeline.
- Brown and Banks are a package. The two former teammates give Staley a backcourt with existing chemistry.
- Versatility fits Staley’s system. Banks’s rebounding, defense and passing match the balanced style Staley prefers.
- The class is growing. With Brown and Banks in, attention turns to Jordyn Palmer and Zaniya Johnson, since the Gamecocks have only a few scholarships to fill.
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