All Four South Carolina 2027 Commits Earn Spots on Naismith High School Player of the Year Watch List
South Carolina women’s basketball continues to receive encouraging news about its future recruiting class. All four players committed to Dawn Staley’s 2027 class have been selected for the 2026–27 Naismith Trophy Girls’ High School Player of the Year Watch List, announced Wednesday.
The watch list features 50 talented high school players, with names presented alphabetically. South Carolina’s four representatives are Jezelle “GG” Banks, Taylor Brown, Zaniya Johnson, and Jordyn Palmer.
Each prospect brings a different skill set to the Gamecocks’ upcoming recruiting class, and their inclusion highlights the level of talent Staley has secured.
GG Banks: A Highly Ranked Point Guard With International Experience
Banks is a 5-foot-10 point guard and the No. 4-ranked player in the 2027 class. Before moving to The St. James Academy in Virginia, she earned Delaware Gatorade State Player of the Year honors twice.
Her achievements also extend beyond high school basketball. Banks helped Team USA capture gold at the 2026 U18 FIBA AmeriCup, adding valuable international experience to her résumé.
Taylor Brown: A Talented Guard Working Toward Her Return
Brown, a 5-foot-7 point guard at Long Island Lutheran in New York, is ranked No. 20 nationally in her class.
She previously played alongside Banks for two seasons in Delaware, giving the future Gamecocks teammates an established connection. Brown sustained an ACL injury in February that has kept her away from competition, but her talent has kept her among the country’s highly regarded prospects.
Zaniya Johnson: A Physical Presence in the Frontcourt
At 6-foot-4, Johnson is a post player from Biloxi, Mississippi, and holds the No. 17 ranking in the 2027 class.
She is regarded as one of the standout prospects to emerge from southern Mississippi. Her game features a physical approach and the ability to compete around the basket, making her an important addition to South Carolina’s future frontcourt.
Johnson selected the Gamecocks over LSU and made her commitment while visiting Columbia.
Jordyn Palmer: An Accomplished Wing With Team USA Success
Palmer is a 6-foot-1 wing from Westtown School in Pennsylvania and is ranked fifth nationally in the 2027 recruiting class.
Her high school résumé includes three Pennsylvania Gatorade State Player of the Year awards. She has also enjoyed considerable success representing Team USA, winning gold medals at the 2024 U17 World Cup and 2026 U18 AmeriCup.
Palmer was particularly impressive during the 2026 AmeriCup, earning tournament MVP recognition after averaging 18.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.2 steals per game.
South Carolina Has a History of Naismith Trophy Winners
The Gamecocks have previously signed two players who went on to receive the Naismith Girls’ High School Player of the Year award.
A’ja Wilson earned the honor in 2014, while Raven Johnson received it in 2021. Having all four members of the 2027 recruiting class appear on the current watch list adds another encouraging chapter to South Carolina’s recruiting story.
Gamecocks Still Monitoring Future Recruiting Targets
The 50-player watch list includes 32 seniors, 12 juniors, and six sophomores. No freshmen were selected.
South Carolina has completed its recruiting work with the current senior class, but the program remains active with several younger prospects featured on the list.
Those players include Giovanna Burress, Madeline Dates of Goose Creek, South Carolina, Sydney Douglas, Tatianna Griffin, and Morghan Reckley.
What This Means for Dawn Staley’s 2027 Class
Having all four commitments recognized on the Naismith watch list is a significant achievement for South Carolina. Banks, Brown, Johnson, and Palmer offer a combination of guard talent, wing versatility, frontcourt strength, and experience in international competition.
The recognition does not guarantee future college success, but it reinforces the potential of a recruiting class that could become an important part of the Gamecocks’ next chapter.
South Carolina has already assembled an impressive 2027 group. The next step will be seeing how these highly regarded prospects develop and eventually contribute in Columbia.
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