Banks, No. 4 in SC Next class of 2027, commits to South Carolina — SkimNews
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- Jezelle "GG" Banks announced her South Carolina commitment Saturday, choosing Staley's program over Texas and LSU after the staff 'recruited me as a person,' she told ESPN.
- Banks is the highest-rated point guard to commit in the 2027 class and the fourth top-10 recruit off the board, with the 5-foot-10 floor general cited as one of the most gifted passers and playmakers of recent cycles.
- The point guard led The St. James Performance Academy to the Chipotle Nationals in its first year and averaged 19.0 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in Nike EYBL play this summer on 47.4% shooting and 76.1% from the line.
- Banks won gold with Team USA at the U18 FIBA Women's AmeriCup (13.8 PPG, 6.2 APG, 2.4 SPG) and took the WNBA All-Star Weekend Shooting Stars title with Team Washington.
- For Dawn Staley, Banks is the most elite point guard recruit since Raven Johnson; she joins fellow 2027 PG Taylor Brown (SC Next 100 No. 30) to address a critical Gamecocks need.
- South Carolina's No. 2-ranked 2026 class — Oliviyah Edwards (No. 3), Jerzy Robinson (No. 6), Kaeli Wynn (No. 19), Kelsi Andrews (No. 30), and French forward Justine Loubens — will already be in Columbia when Banks arrives next fall.
- With presumed returns of Joyce Edwards, Alicia Tournebize, Jordan Lee, and Agot Makeer, Banks could assume control of a loaded lineup; South Carolina remains in the mix for 2027 wing Jordyn Palmer (No. 7) and post Zaniya Johnson (No. 18).
Why it matters: South Carolina secures a generational point guard prospect who arrives on top of a No. 2-ranked 2026 class and several presumed key returnees, keeping Staley's reload in championship contention — while finalist programs Texas and LSU miss out on the highest-rated floor general of the 2027 cycle.
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