South Carolina Women’s Basketball Heats Up on the Recruiting Trail With Key Offers and Upcoming Visits
The Gamecocks are staying busy as recruiting momentum builds heading toward the fall. With scholarship offers going out and official visit dates being locked in, South Carolina is laying the groundwork for what could be another top-tier class.
While a few commitments and official visits have already taken place, the majority of action traditionally picks up in late August through October — just ahead of the early November signing window.
Gamecocks Extend Offer to 2027 Standout Zaniya Johnson
On Friday, South Carolina offered a scholarship to rising star Zaniya Johnson, a 6-foot-4 forward from Biloxi, Mississippi. Ranked as the No. 17 overall prospect and No. 4 forward by ESPN, and No. 20 overall and No. 6 forward by Rivals, Johnson is considered one of the most talented players ever to emerge from southern Mississippi.
Naturally, SEC schools like Mississippi State and Ole Miss have long been in the mix, but Johnson’s offer sheet already includes half the SEC — and it’s expected she’ll hear from the other half soon.
A two-time Region Player of the Year, Johnson averaged 14.5 points and 8.6 rebounds as a sophomore and has already surpassed 1,000 career points. She is expected to eclipse 1,000 rebounds early in her junior season.
Top-2026 Forward Oliviyah Edwards Sets Visit
Highly ranked 2026 forward Oliviyah Edwards has scheduled her official visit to South Carolina for the weekend of September 19-21. She previously made an unofficial visit to Columbia back in January.
Edwards — ranked No. 2 overall by ESPN and No. 4 by Rivals — has already visited Southern Cal and has official visits set for Tennessee (Sept. 12-14) and LSU (Oct. 9-12).
Known for her freakish athleticism, Edwards is often compared to South Carolina’s own Ashlyn Watkins — but with more polished perimeter skills. She’s capable of dunking, shooting, rebounding, and defending at an elite level.
While Edwards announced a top 10 in June (including Notre Dame, Duke, Florida, Washington, Florida State, and North Carolina), sources suggest her focus has shifted to a top four: South Carolina, Tennessee, LSU, and Southern Cal.
Aaliah Spaight Narrows Top 10
2026 point guard Aaliah Spaight, who received a Gamecock offer on July 22, has trimmed her list to 10 schools. Her finalists include South Carolina, LSU, Texas, Texas Tech, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt, Rutgers, Arizona, and Arizona State.
Though she hasn’t yet scheduled a visit to Columbia, Spaight is actively setting dates.
The 5-foot-7 guard out of Las Vegas was named the 2024 Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year and is currently ranked 77th by ESPN. Despite that ranking, her recent offers speak volumes — with UNC, LSU, Vanderbilt, and Texas all jumping in shortly after South Carolina did.
Cece Arico Makes a Move
In other recruiting news, 2027 guard Cece Arico — the daughter of Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico — announced she’s transferring from Detroit Country Day School (MI) to national prep powerhouse Long Island Lutheran.
Arico picked up an offer from South Carolina last summer and will now join one of the nation’s most talent-rich programs. Long Island Lutheran has produced several elite prospects in recent years, including Syla and Savvy Swords, Kayleigh Heckel, Kate Koval, Olivia Jones, and Sanai Green.
Another Gamecock target, Emily McDonald (2026) — who recently received an offer — will also be playing for Long Island Lutheran this fall.
