Banks, No. 4 in SC Next class of 2027, commits to South Carolina

Jezelle "GG" Banks, the No. 4-ranked player and one of the top point guards in the SC Next class of 2027, has committed to South Carolina, she announced Saturday. She is the Gamecocks' second recruitment of the cycle, choosing Dawn Staley's program over Texas and LSU. "From my first time meeting Dawn, to Coach Jo and the staff making me feel right at home, I knew this was where I belonged," Banks told ESPN. "They never just recruited me as a player, they recruited me as a person, and they were honest with me about what it would take to get where I want to go. I want to compete for national championships, and I want to be pushed every single day." The 5-foot-10 Banks is the highest rated point guard to commit thus far in the 2027 class, and the fourth top-10 recruit off the board. She is one of the most gifted passers and playmakers of the past few classes, and sees the floor in all dimensions. She's adept at living in the paint and causing chaos for defenses. She's also physical at the rim, creative in her finishes and a smooth pick-and-roll operator. As her perimeter shooting continues to improve, she'll project even higher. Last season, she led The St. James Performance Academy (DC) to the Chipotle Nationals in its first year. In the Nike EYBL this summer, she averaged 19 points, 3 rebounds and 5.5 assists, shooting 47.4% from the floor and 76.1% from the free throw line. She was also part of the gold medal-winning Team USA for the U18 FIBA Women's AmeriCup, and averaged 13.8 points, 6.2 assists and 2.4 steals. She also participated in the WNBA All-Star weekend, winning the Shooting Stars contest with Team Washington (Shakira Austin and Elena Delle Donne). Banks gives Staley her most elite point guard recruit since Raven Johnson, and joins fellow PG Taylor Brown (SC Next 100 No. 30) in filling a crucial need at the spot for the Gamecocks. They would join the No. 2 ranked 2026 recruiting class -- including forward Oliviyah Edwards (SC Next 100 No. 3), guard Jerzy Robinson (SC Next 100 No. 6), forward Kaeli Wynn (SC Next 100 No. 19), post Kelsi Andrews (SC Next 100 No. 30) and French forward Justine Loubens -- in Columbia next season. With the presumed return of Joyce Edwards, Alicia Tournebize and Edwards inside as well as wings Jordan Lee and Agot Makeer, Banks could take the keys to a high-octane team upon her arrival next fall. The Gamecocks are still in the mix for wing Jordyn Palmer (No. 7) and post Zaniyah Johnson (No. 18) in the 2027 cycle.