South Carolina Sets Sixth Fall Official Visit With Ashley MacCalla, Building a Loaded Recruiting Weekend Slate
South Carolina continues expanding its already busy fall recruiting calendar, reportedly setting up a sixth official visit for the season with 2027 guard Ashley MacCalla.
MacCalla’s Rapid Rise
MacCalla has developed into a genuine late bloomer, earning her South Carolina offer at the end of July following a standout summer. Since then, she’s climbed 20 spots in ESPN’s rankings, and now sits at 21st nationally by Rivals, 28th by 247, and 15th by ESPN. Listed at 5-foot-11, MacCalla is categorized as a small forward by Rivals and a guard by ESPN — though her game as a face-up perimeter player makes guard the more fitting label.
Her summer résumé backs up the rise: she earned MVP honors at the Rose Classic in June, helped her Exodus NYC team reach the national championship game in July, and was a finalist for the USA Basketball U17 team. Scouting notes describe her as excellent off the dribble with a reliable jump shot, along with being an impactful defender for her age.
A Visit Schedule Still Taking Shape
MacCalla has already completed visits to Rutgers (late August) and Oklahoma (last weekend), with additional trips locked in for Virginia (September 10), Cal (September 18), LSU (September 24), and Miami (October 23). Her South Carolina visit date remains unset, and she also plans to visit Texas at some point.
Teammate Connections Run Deep
MacCalla’s recruitment overlaps significantly with two other South Carolina targets. She plays alongside Jezelle “GG” Banks at St. James Performance Academy in Washington, DC, and competes with Taylor Brown on the EYBL circuit for Exodus NYC. Interestingly, Banks and Brown were previously teammates themselves at Ursuline Academy in Delaware before both transferring to higher-profile programs — meaning South Carolina is pursuing three players from a tightly connected recruiting circle.
Banks’ Ongoing Visit Process
Fourth-ranked Banks confirmed to On3 that her official visits include South Carolina, LSU, Texas, and Ohio State. She’s already visited LSU the weekend of September 4 and is expected in Texas the weekend of September 18, though her South Carolina and Ohio State dates remain unannounced. Notably, both Texas and South Carolina made in-person visits to see Banks on September 2.
Brown’s Visit Locked In
Brown, the 19th-ranked overall prospect and third-ranked point guard in the class, will visit South Carolina the weekend of September 19. She’s previously visited Tennessee and Virginia Tech, with a trip to North Carolina still on the horizon.
A Loaded Visit Weekend Taking Shape
South Carolina’s fall visit calendar is becoming increasingly stacked. Point guard Kaylor Buse, who has already visited Washington and TCU, will complete her tour with stops at Utah (September 11), Oregon (September 18), and finally South Carolina on October 2. That same weekend, the Gamecocks will also host post Zaniya Johnson, a 6-foot-4 prospect from Biloxi, Mississippi ranked 17th by Rivals and 18th by ESPN — third among posts nationally. Johnson visited Florida State last weekend and has additional trips planned to LSU (September 10), Texas A&M (September 17), and Mississippi State (October 23).
Rounding out the group is wing Jordyn Palmer, ranked sixth by both Rivals and 247 and seventh by ESPN. Palmer has confirmed official visits to South Carolina and Ohio State for September, though exact dates remain unrevealed, and she’s indicated she could add trips to UCLA, Maryland, and her home-state program, Penn State.
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