Dawn Staley Has Another Big Decision Coming — And It Could Change South Carolina’s 2027 Class

South Carolina already has its first commitment in the 2027 recruiting class.

Now, Dawn Staley could be just days away from landing another major piece.

Five-star point guard Jezelle “GG” Banks has narrowed her recruitment to South Carolina, LSU and Texas, with her commitment announcement scheduled for October 9 in Delaware, according to ESPN.

Banks is currently ranked No. 4 overall in the 2027 class and is regarded as one of the nation’s premier guards.

South Carolina has been heavily involved with Banks for some time, and that relationship became even more significant when she made her official visit to Columbia in September.

Banks visited the Gamecocks alongside fellow 2027 prospects Jordyn Palmer and Taylor Brown, giving South Carolina an opportunity to put three of its top recruiting targets on campus at the same time.

That weekend has already produced results.

On October 3, Taylor Brown committed to South Carolina, becoming the Gamecocks’ first commitment of the 2027 class after choosing Dawn Staley’s program over Tennessee and North Carolina.

Now Banks is the next major decision.

And Staley has continued to show just how important Banks is to the program.

After Banks returned to action with St. James Academy, Staley and assistant coach Jolette Law traveled to Las Vegas to watch her play.

Banks responded with 24 points, leading St. James to a 67-64 victory over Ontario Christian and No. 1-ranked Kaleena Smith, according to On3.

Her résumé already speaks for itself.

Banks helped Team USA win gold at the 2026 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup, averaging 13.8 points and 6.2 assists over five games.

She also made the winning shot at the Shooting Stars event during WNBA All-Star Weekend and has previously been named Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year twice.

For South Carolina, the timing makes this recruitment even more interesting.

The Gamecocks now have Brown committed, while Palmer remains in the picture and has continued taking visits elsewhere.

South Carolina is also recruiting Banks’ St. James teammate Ashley MacCalla, another highly ranked 2027 prospect.

So the question heading into October 9 is simple:

Will Brown be joined by one of the best guards in America?

If Banks chooses South Carolina, Staley would suddenly have a potentially dangerous foundation for the 2027 class, with Brown and Banks bringing significant talent to the backcourt.

And after landing Brown just days ago, Gamecock fans won’t have to wait long to find out if another huge recruiting win is coming.