Zaniya Johnson Is Down to South Carolina and LSU: Why we know South Carolina has The Upper Hand-ish
Five-star center Zaniya Johnson has cut her list to two: South Carolina and LSU. The graphic, labeled “The Final Two,” shows Johnson in her Biloxi jersey with both logos. I couldn’t find a commitment date or any insider report on where she is leaning. The percentages below are my own estimates.
Who she is
Johnson is a 6-foot-4 post player from Biloxi, Mississippi, ranked No. 18 in ESPN’s 2027 class. She previously had a final five of South Carolina, LSU, Florida State, Texas A&M and Mississippi State, so the cut to two is the new development.
Her visits
LSU: She completed visits to Florida State and LSU before heading to Texas A&M and later South Carolina. I couldn’t find the date of her LSU trip.
South Carolina: She took her official visit the weekend of October 2. She was the fourth visitor this fall after Jordyn Palmer, GG Banks and Taylor Brown came through on September 19.
During the visit, Dawn Staley had her on the sideline before South Carolina’s October 3 football game against Kentucky. Staley’s assistants and players such as Kaeli Wynn and Jerzy Robinson were seen with Johnson. That is the kind of treatment programs give recruits they want badly.
Why South Carolina
- Roster need. On South Carolina’s 15-player roster, eight are forwards, but Staley doesn’t have a true center.
- Staley’s history. The same piece notes her offense thrived with true centers like Aliyah Boston and Kamilla Cardoso.
- Succession. With Kitts and Watkins nearing the end of their college careers, the program needs its next frontcourt.
- A growing class. Brown has committed, and Banks and Palmer are recruiting targets alongside Johnson.
Why LSU
- Proximity. She is a Mississippi native, and Baton Rouge is closer to Biloxi than Columbia.
- Early momentum. Her LSU visit came before her South Carolina one, and LSU stayed in her final group through each cut.
- A strong class pitch. Kim Mulkey’s program has landed elite recruits in recent classes.
I couldn’t find reliable reporting on LSU’s current pitch to Johnson. Forum posts I found mix old and unverified claims, so I’m not relying on them.
My estimate
| School | Estimate |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | ~55% |
| LSU | ~45% |
I lean slightly toward South Carolina for three reasons: the clear positional need, the weekend Staley’s staff gave her, and the fact that it was her most recent official visit. A recent visit can leave a stronger impression, though that isn’t decisive.
My confidence in this number is low. She was a two-school finalist before her final visit, and the proximity advantage for LSU is real. A 10-point gap on this little information is within the margin of error.
What to watch
- Banks’s decision today. If she picks South Carolina, the Gamecocks would have a point guard and a center to pitch Johnson on. If she picks LSU, that program gets a similar boost.
- A commitment date announcement. Her camp hasn’t set one that I could find.
- Her other visits. Reports suggested Mississippi State and Texas A&M were also in play, so check whether those have been completed or canceled.
- Social media signals, including who she follows and who posts about her.
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