Carolina women’s basketball closed out the November signing period with a class that ranks among the strongest in the country. Dawn Staley secured commitments from four elite players in the 2027 cycle: three five-star prospects and one four-star guard. All four are set to arrive for the 2027-28 season. The Gamecocks began the signing window holding the nation’s top-ranked class, according to ESPN.
Staley was upbeat about how the group fits together. “I like the chemistry,” she told reporters Wednesday. “Some of them are used to playing with each other, but they’ve been around. They’ve been to so many events together. It’s a lot of talent, a lot of competitive spirit, a lot of players that can immediately come and make an impact for our team. Excited for their journeys, excited to see them just finish up their high school careers, and come on and help us try to win some more championships.”
Taylor Brown, Guard
Brown, a 5-foot-6 four-star guard rated No. 30 nationally by ESPN, was the first player to commit to Staley in this cycle, doing so on Oct. 2. She turned down North Carolina and Tennessee to pick the Gamecocks. Brown earned MaxPreps Junior All-American honorable mention in 2026, even though an injury ended her season early.
“Taylor is built to be a Gamecock because takes pride in her defense,” Staley said in a press release. “She is a playmaker who can also score the ball. Her speed and quickness impact the game on both ends of the floor.”
GG Banks, Guard
Banks stands 5-foot-10 and sits at No. 4 in ESPN’s 2027 rankings. She announced for South Carolina on Oct. 10 after drawing offers from 40 programs, among them SEC competitors LSU and Texas. As a junior at The St. James Performance Academy in Virginia, she posted 14.3 points and 5.4 assists per game, and she produced 19 points and 5.5 assists a night for Team Durant on the EYBL circuit.
“GG is a dynamic scorer with a point guard’s mindset of making everyone around her better,” Staley said in a press release. “Her court vision and unselfish play match her scoring ability, and she is a lockdown defender. End of the day, GG wants to win no matter what, and we love that in a Gamecock.”
Zaniya Johnson, Forward
Johnson, a 6-foot-4 forward from Biloxi, Mississippi, is ranked No. 18 in the class. She chose South Carolina over LSU on Oct. 21. Last season she put up 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game and led Biloxi High School to the 2026 Region 4-7A title.
“Zaniya is true post player who has the physical presence and the tools to own the low block,” Staley said in a release. “She attacks the boards on both ends of the floor, is a solid rim protector and can run the floor with the best. She has exceptional footwork and a high ceiling that we can’t wait to help her reach.”
Jordyn Palmer, Wing
Palmer is a 6-foot-1 wing out of Westtown High School in Pennsylvania and the No. 7 prospect in the class, per ESPN. She selected the Gamecocks over Ohio State, UCLA and Penn State, announcing her decision on Oct. 23. A three-time Pennsylvania Gatorade Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year, she averaged 23.2 points and 13.2 rebounds last season. She was also named MVP of the 2026 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup, where she averaged 18.8 points and 7.4 rebounds.
“Jordyn is an incredibly skilled player with a high basketball IQ,” Staley said in a release. “She’s a strong, physical player who can play any position on the floor depending on the matchup. She brings a lot to the table with her ability to play inside and out and her comfort in the mid-range as well.”
Bottom Line
South Carolina’s 2027 haul pairs backcourt playmaking with frontcourt size and scoring versatility. Brown and Banks give Staley two guards who can defend and create, Johnson adds a true rim-protecting post presence, and Palmer offers a positional flexibility that fits the way Staley likes to deploy her lineups. With a top-ranked class locked in and a coach who clearly values how the group meshes, the Gamecocks are positioned to keep reloading while chasing more titles.
