Everything GG Banks Said About Dawn Staley, Law and Why She Chose South Carolina
Five-star guard Jezelle “GG” Banks announced her commitment to Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks on a live stream Saturday. She is the second 2027 recruit to commit to South Carolina in the past week.
What Banks said about her choice
Speaking with ESPN’s Shane Laflin, Banks credited her relationship with the coaching staff, starting with her first meeting with Dawn Staley. She said Coach Jolette Law and the rest of the staff made her feel at home, and that she knew “this was where I belonged.”
Beyond that one quote, her message came down to three points, which I’ve paraphrased:
- They recruited her as a person, not just a player. The staff built a relationship instead of only talking basketball.
- They were honest about what it would take for her to reach her goals.
- Her ambitions are clear. She wants to compete for national championships and to be pushed every day.
Her profile
- 5-foot-10 guard, ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s 2027 class
- Junior season: 14.3 points and 5.4 assists per game, leading The St. James Performance Academy (Virginia) to a 23-4 record
- This summer on the EYBL circuit: 20 points and eight assists per game for Team Durant
- 2026 Naismith High School All-American Second Team selection in March
- Offers: about 40 schools, including several high-major programs
International success
Banks won a gold medal with Team USA this summer at the 2026 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup, playing alongside Gamecock freshman Kelsi Andrews. She averaged 13.8 points and 6.2 rebounds and was named to the All-Star Second Team.
How the recruitment ended
South Carolina beat out SEC rivals LSU and Texas, her other two finalists. She took an official visit in mid-September alongside fellow top recruits Jordyn Palmer and Taylor Brown, a weekend that now looks significant.
South Carolina’s 2027 class so far
| Player | Rank (ESPN) | Committed |
|---|---|---|
| Taylor Brown, four-star guard | No. 30 | Oct. 2 |
| GG Banks, five-star guard | No. 4 | Oct. 10 |
Why it matters
- The staff relationship won out. Banks pointed to Staley and Law’s honesty and personal approach, rather than any single feature of the program.
- Her stated goal fits the program. A player who wants to be pushed daily and chase titles is a natural match for Staley.
- The class is taking shape. With Brown and Banks in, Palmer and Zaniya Johnson are the remaining targets.
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