Gamecocks Heavily Tied to Elite Talent in Rivals’ First 2027 Women’s Basketball Rankings
This week, Rivals dropped its first-ever rankings for the class of 2027 in women’s basketball, spotlighting 50 of the top young stars in the sport—and South Carolina is already in the mix for many of them.
While not every prospect makes all of their offers public, a significant number of players on the Rivals top-50 list currently hold public scholarship offers from Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks. Though the recruiting landscape is always shifting, these athletes are early targets for one of the most dominant programs in college basketball.
Here’s a look at where South Carolina’s 2027 targets landed in the initial rankings:
🔥 Gamecock Targets in the Rivals Top 50
- PG Kaleena Smith (California)
- No. 1 overall, No. 1 PG, No. 1 in CA
- SF Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka (Maryland)
- No. 2 overall, No. 1 SF, No. 1 in MD
- SG Haylen Ayers (Tennessee)
- No. 3 overall, No. 1 SG, No. 1 in TN
- CG Jezelle “GG” Banks (Delaware)
- No. 4 overall, No. 1 Combo Guard, No. 1 in DE
- SF Jordyn Palmer (Pennsylvania)
- No. 5 overall, No. 2 SF, No. 1 in PA
- C Caroline Bradley (Louisiana)
- No. 6 overall, No. 1 Center, No. 1 in LA
- SF Micah Ojo (Virginia)
- No. 7 overall, No. 3 SF, No. 1 in VA
- PF Eve Long (Kansas)
- No. 8 overall, No. 1 PF, No. 1 in KS
- PF Nation Williams (Nevada)
- No. 10 overall, No. 2 PF, No. 1 in NV
- SG Sydney Savoury (Michigan)
- No. 11 overall, No. 2 SG, No. 1 in MI
- PF Sydney Mobley (Ohio)
- No. 16 overall, No. 5 PF, No. 1 in OH
- SG Cece Arico (Michigan)
- No. 20 overall, No. 5 SG, No. 2 in MI
- SF Kie’Aundria Acree (Georgia)
- No. 26 overall, No. 8 SF, No. 1 in GA
👀 Other Notable Names to Watch
- Khalia Hartwell, a 6-5 center from Westside High School in Anderson, SC, enters the rankings at No. 25 overall. She’s the top-ranked player in South Carolina. Though she hasn’t yet received a public offer from the Gamecocks, she could become a priority if the coaching staff makes a move.
- Zaniya Johnson, a 6-4 power forward from Biloxi, Mississippi, debuts at No. 38 overall. While she also doesn’t currently hold a public offer from USC, she has taken an unofficial visit to Columbia, signaling potential mutual interest.
As the recruiting cycle evolves, offers and interest will shift—but it’s clear South Carolina has its sights set on elite-level talent across the country. With multiple top-10 and top-position players on their radar, Dawn Staley’s pipeline of top-tier recruits remains strong, and the class of 2027 could be another powerhouse group.
