5-Star Guard GG Banks Commits to Play for Dawn Staley, South Carolina over Texas, LSU

Five-star combo guard Jezelle "GG" Banks committed to South Carolina on Saturday, according to ESPN's Shane Laflin.

Banks is the No. 4 overall player and ranks first at her position in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2027 class. She had narrowed her list of finalists to the Gamecocks and SEC rivals LSU and Texas.

The 5'9" playmaker is the second 2027 commit for coach Dawn Staley after fellow guard Taylor Brown. Center Zaniya Johnson could be the next in line.

The Gamecocks had the No. 2 class for 2026, a group that included four 5-star prospects: guard Jerzy Robinson, forwards Kaeli Wynn and Oliviyah Edwards and center Kelsi Andrews.

South Carolina is a Final Four mainstay under Staley, winning titles in 2017, 2022 and 2024. The success of Gamecocks legends A'ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston and Allisha Gray has served as a great advertisement for the program as well.

"From my first time meeting Dawn, to Coach [Jolette Law] and the staff making me feel right at home, I knew this was where I belonged," Banks told Laflin. "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."

Banks won a gold medal with the United States over the summer in the 2026 FIBA U18 Women's AmeriCup. She also participated in the Shooting Stars competition at WNBA All-Star Weekend. She teamed with the Washington Mystics' Shakira Austin and two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne to win.

Wilson and Boston, two frontcourt standouts, define the current era of South Carolina basketball more than anyone else.

Guard play has been a key facet of the team's dominance, though. Tyasha Harris, Destanni Henderson, Zia Cooke, Te-Hina Paopao and Raven Johnson all earned All-American honors in Columbia before moving on to the next level.

In a few years, Banks might be added to that list.