Kaylor Buse Sets South Carolina Official Visit as Gamecocks Push for 2027 Four-Star Guard

South Carolina has moved into the final five for 2027 four-star point guard Kaylor Buse, and the Gamecocks now have a firm date for their chance to make a final impression.

Buse will take her official visit to South Carolina on Oct. 3, according to On3’s Talia Goodman.

The West Linn High School standout has also named Washington, TCU, Utah and Oregon as finalists in her recruitment.

For Dawn Staley and South Carolina, the visit represents an important opportunity to turn a relatively recent recruiting relationship into a serious contender for one of the country’s highly regarded guards.

South Carolina’s official visit is set for Oct. 3

Buse has already completed an official visit to Washington and has visits scheduled with each of her other finalists.

South Carolina will host her last on-campus visit of the process when she travels nearly 3,000 miles from West Linn, Oregon, to Columbia on Oct. 3.

The distance is an obvious variable in the recruitment.

Buse acknowledged that herself while discussing her upcoming trip with On3.

She said she is looking forward to seeing the campus, meeting South Carolina’s players and getting a better feel for whether the geographic distance will matter in her decision.

That makes the official visit particularly important for the Gamecocks.

South Carolina did not enter the recruitment as early as some of Buse’s other finalists.

Staley offered Buse a scholarship on July 29, meaning the Gamecocks have had less time to build the relationship.

Buse, however, does not view South Carolina’s later involvement as a disadvantage.

Buse is still getting to know the Gamecocks

Buse described South Carolina as a program she is still learning more about because of how recently the Gamecocks entered her recruitment.

That could make the October visit different from the trips she takes to programs she has known for longer.

South Carolina will have the chance to put its culture, players and basketball environment directly in front of Buse rather than relying solely on conversations and recruiting pitches.

The guard has already developed a strong impression of Staley.

Buse described her first conversation with the South Carolina coach as an almost surreal experience because of Staley's reputation.

What stood out to her was not simply Staley’s résumé.

Buse also pointed to the coach’s communication style and the way she speaks about her players and program.

That relationship could become one of South Carolina’s biggest advantages as the recruitment develops.

What would Buse bring to South Carolina?

Buse is a 5-foot-9 point guard ranked No. 52 nationally by ESPN in the 2027 class.

Her production at West Linn shows why she has attracted significant recruiting attention.

She averaged 15.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game last season while helping West Linn win the Oregon 6A state championship.

She was also named First Team All-State.

The numbers point to a guard who contributes beyond scoring.

Her 5.2 assists per game are particularly relevant for a South Carolina program that values guards capable of creating offense and making decisions with the ball.

Her rebounding and defensive production also suggest a player who can impact possessions in multiple ways.

South Carolina would still have to determine exactly how Buse fits into its future rotation if she chooses the Gamecocks.

But her profile gives Staley another potential option in the backcourt with experience running an offense and contributing defensively.

South Carolina has another recruiting advantage on the West Coast

Geography may be one of the biggest questions surrounding South Carolina’s pursuit of Buse.

West Linn and Columbia are separated by almost 3,000 miles, making the move across the country significantly different from staying closer to home.

The Gamecocks can point, however, to their growing connections with West Coast players.

Freshmen Kaeli Wynn and Jerzy Robinson both have California ties, with Robinson coming to South Carolina from Arizona after previously playing in California.

Their presence could give Buse players closer to her own background who can explain what the transition to Columbia is actually like.

That does not guarantee the distance will cease to matter.

It does give South Carolina another potential avenue for addressing one of the biggest questions surrounding the recruitment.

South Carolina already has major 2027 targets visiting

Buse is not the only highly ranked 2027 prospect scheduled to visit South Carolina.

Five-star guards Jezelle “GG” Banks and Jordyn Palmer have also publicly locked in official visits with the Gamecocks.

Banks is ranked No. 4 nationally in the class, while Palmer is ranked No. 7.

Palmer is scheduled to visit in September, while Buse’s trip comes Oct. 3.

That gives Staley several opportunities to make a major impression on elite 2027 talent during the recruiting cycle.

Buse’s visit could be particularly significant because South Carolina’s relationship with her developed later than some of its competitors.

The Gamecocks now have a defined opportunity to close that gap.

The biggest question for South Carolina

Buse’s Oct. 3 visit should give both sides a much clearer picture of the fit.

South Carolina has the national profile, Staley’s track record and a growing group of players with West Coast connections.

Buse brings a proven résumé, point-guard skills and the kind of all-around production that can make her valuable in a future backcourt.

The unresolved issue is whether the appeal of the Gamecocks can outweigh the reality of moving across the country.

For South Carolina, that makes the Oct. 3 official visit more than another recruiting trip.

It is the Gamecocks’ chance to show Buse why Columbia can become the right home for her college career, and why the distance should not decide the recruitment before she gets there.

If the visit goes well, South Carolina could strengthen its position considerably in the recruitment of 2027 four-star point guard Kaylor Buse.

FAQs

When will Kaylor Buse visit South Carolina?

Kaylor Buse is scheduled to take her official visit to South Carolina on Oct. 3.

Who is recruiting Kaylor Buse?

Buse’s top five currently include South Carolina, Washington, TCU, Utah and Oregon.

How highly is Kaylor Buse ranked?

Buse is a four-star recruit ranked No. 52 nationally by ESPN in the 2027 class.

What position does Kaylor Buse play?

Buse is a 5-foot-9 point guard from West Linn High School in Oregon.

How did Kaylor Buse perform last season?

Buse averaged 15.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game while helping West Linn win the Oregon 6A state championship.

Alternative headlines

Kaylor Buse Picks Oct. 3 for South Carolina Visit as Gamecocks Chase 2027 Guard

South Carolina Gets Its Shot at Kaylor Buse as Four-Star Guard Sets Official Visit