As of the start of the early signing period, 95 of the top 100 prospects in the girls’ 2027 SC Next rankings have already made their verbal commitments. Those players can officially sign with their schools from Nov. 11-18, when programs can announce their recruiting classes as future additions to their roster for 2027-28.
So far, nine programs have secured five-stars, and overall 55 programs across 11 conferences are represented in the top-100 player rankings. South Carolina, Florida and Virginia Tech are tied for the most top-100 commitments (four), and eight other programs trail closely behind with three apiece.
So, what could happen in the next week? Before we jump into the latest update on class rankings — updated to top 10! — here are some things we’re watching.
What could shake up the landscape of the 2027 signing class? In comparison to past years, the great majority of 2027 SC Next top 100 players have declared their college destinations, the timing and cadence of this no doubt due to a couple of factors: NIL and the “five-in-five” eligibility rule with players able to stay an extra year in college. So, among the top 25 forecasted classes, there’s not a lot that can change.
Can anyone conceivably knock South Carolina from the No. 1 spot? The Gamecocks had a flurry of commitments in September and October that vaulted them to the top of the class rankings. Based on the finalists for the remaining five-star players, a few programs could mount a challenge.
UConn secured the commitment of No. 9 Sydney Savoury last week, and followed that up by hosting No. 1 Kaleena Smith (finalists: USC, UCLA, Arizona State, Louisville, Washington, UConn, Georgia, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Tennessee), No. 3 Ivanna Wilson Manyacka (finalists: UConn, Duke, North Carolina, LSU, Texas, Maryland) and No. 8 Haylen Ayers (finalists: Vanderbilt and UConn) on an official visit last weekend. If Geno Auriemma and the Huskies were to potentially land any two of those three players, they would have to be considered for the top class.
No. 11 Nation Williams (finalists: North Carolina, Duke, Notre Dame, UCLA, Iowa) is also set to announce her commitment Wednesday evening. With UCLA and North Carolina still on the board for Manyacka, there is a scenario in which the Bruins or the Tar Heels land both players and have a case.
For now, though, the Gamecocks are poised to remain on a tier of their own. Bookmark this page, as we’ll keep updating the best recruiting classes in women’s college basketball for the 2027 cycle.
Note: Class rankings are determined by a mathematical formula from Five Star Academies that weights different factors related to the quality and quantity of players in the class.
See the updated SC Next player rankings:
2027 SC Next 100 |
2028 SC Next 60 |
2029 SC Next 25
Previous ranking: 1
No. 4 Jezelle Banks, PG
No. 7 Jordyn Palmer, W
No. 18 Zaniya Johnson, P
No. 30 Taylor Brown, PG
Dawn Staley has landed depth at point guard along with another post presence, giving South Carolina a balanced class that currently sits atop the rankings. Banks is a heavyweight commitment who fills a need at point guard and has the makings of a superstar: She keeps the ball on a string, has a flair for playmaking and can lead the break in transition and find teammates with laser-quality passes.
Palmer is a do-everything forward and incredible finisher at the rim with some playmaking ability in the frontcourt. She was named MVP of the gold medal-winning Team USA at the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup this summer.
The 6-foot-4 Johnson, the third-ranked post in the class, has an old-school physicality — especially on the defensive end — and touch around the rim.
Brown is a smaller guard who has been out since February with an ACL injury. Before getting hurt, though, her playmaking at point guard and ability to make her teammates better had taken a step forward, and Brown had become a true knock-down threat from deep.
Previous ranking: 2
No. 5 Eve Long, F
No. 16 Avery Arije, G
No. 36 Chasity Rice, PG
Three-star Loren Macy, F
Niele Ivey has landed two of the best in their positions in the 2027 class. The 6-3 Long is the highest-rated forward in the class due to her combination of athleticism, height, length and skill. She can attack off the bounce, shoot the 3 and defend anyone on the floor.
Arije is an elite left-handed guard from Canada with years of international experience. At 6 feet, she has the instincts of a lead guard and the calming poise of a veteran.
Rice, a 5-6 point guard, comes from a winning pedigree in both high school and club basketball. She is relentless off the bounce and can get her shot off quickly.
Macy is a fundamentally sound 5-10 wing and sister of sophomore forward Leah Macy.
Previous ranking: 3
No. 6 Micah Ojo, W
No. 13 Ryan Carter, G
This is a massive perimeter haul for Courtney Banghart, especially after signing sensational freshman Kate Harpring last year.
Ojo, a 6-1 wing, has the most positional versatility in the 2027 class and is a significant reason for the Tar Heels’ rank. She’s a two-time gold medalist with USA Basketball.
Carter is a 6-foot guard with an aggressive style of play and an improved ability to create shots for teammates. Both Ojo and Carter rebound exceptionally well for their positions.
Previous ranking: Unranked
No. 10 Qandace Samuels, W
No. 14 Jayla Forbes, P
Vic Schaefer has landed two major program fits to start his 2027 class.
Samuels is a hybrid wing who brings defensive intensity, a legitimate shooting threat and rebounding. She has won at a high level both in high school and club basketball. At 6-2, her length and height will provide size as a wing or small-ball forward.
Forbes is a prototypical big. At 6-7, she is nimble for her size and a major two-way paint presence. Her finishing has improved, and she’s scoring with a more consistent touch. She also passes well out of inevitable double-teams.
Previous ranking: 4
No. 17 Miciah Fusilier, F
No. 19 Ogechi Okeke, P
No. 49 Samari Holmen, PG
Nicki Collen landed two major regional recruits plus an in-state point guard.
Fusilier, a 6-3 forward, raised her stock over the summer after her combination of versatility and talent matched her motor and production. She can stretch the floor offensively and guard multiple positions.
Okeke, Baylor’s first commitment in the class, is another 6-3 physical force inside. She carves out space around the rim, protects the paint defensively and has the mobility to be effective in ball-screen coverage.
Holmen missed much of last year rehabbing an ACL injury, but is expected to return for her final high school season. Before her injury, she went from a scoring-oriented combo guard to a true point guard, showing more efficiency off the bounce to run a team, all while adding a trusted 3-point shot.
Previous ranking: 5
No. 26 Bella Owumi, W
No. 48 Madeline Mignery, G
No. 61 Aila Courtenay, F
No. 70 Anna Moser, PG
First-year head coach Tammi Reiss is off to a hot start with a balanced class, drawing on her recruiting relationships at her previous stop, Rhode Island.
The backcourt additions come from the Northeast. Owumi is an ultra-athletic physical guard who never stops attacking the paint. She has gotten better at breaking down defenders off the dribble while keeping them honest with her outside shot. Moser is a crafty point guard who balances creating for others with her own scoring ability. She can initiate on offense as a catch-and-shoot threat, and utilizes a variety of floaters and creative finishes in the paint.
Florida’s frontcourt recruits come from closer to home, with Mignery from Florida and Courtenay from Georgia. Mignery is a strong-bodied wing who loves the midrange shot, finishes well through contact and mixes it up on the boards. Courtenay is a strong inside presence who operates primarily in and around the paint. She has quality hands and a competitive motor.
Previous ranking: Unranked
No. 20 Azariah Jackson, F
No. 25 Brookeslee Colvin, PG
No. 66 Finley Parker, W
Teri Moren has recruited well outside of Indiana’s traditional geographic footprint.
Jackson is a unique 6-4 point forward. The Washington native is a gifted passer, ball handler and knockdown shooter from deep. Her high IQ allows her to guard multiple positions, though she’ll sit out her senior season because of a knee injury sustained this summer.
Idaho native Colvin had a high school season with a spectacular summer that raised her profile. She is a fundamentally sound point guard who knows the when, why and how of the game — and can punish opponents from 3.
Parker is a 6-2 finesse forward from Georgia who can stretch the floor and operates well in ball-screen actions.
Previous ranking: Unranked
No. 35 Jazman Bailey, PG
No. 39 Dani Robinson, G
No. 60 Lillie Graves, G
No. 93 Ashley Kreiger, F
Megan Duffy has her most star-studded recruiting class since taking over at Virginia Tech.
Bailey is a speedy 5-8 point guard out of Texas who has two gold medals with USA Basketball on her résumé. She might be the fastest end-to-end ball handler in the class, and is also a terrorizing on-ball defender.
The Hokies went all the way to California to land Robinson, a major catch-and-shoot threat from beyond the arc and another rugged on-ball defender.
A 6-foot wing, Graves is the ultimate versatile glue player who can play all over the floor. The 6-3 Krieger has a higher ceiling than her ranking suggests. An excellent defender and rebounder, her scoring is showing signs of improvement and her best days are ahead of her.
Previous ranking: Unranked
No. 21 Finley Parcher, G
No. 87 Ginny Dumont, G
Four-star Anna Smykovskaia, C (Spain)
Once again, the defending national champions are recruiting well both domestically and abroad. Parcher is a 6-1 do-it-all guard, as tough and competitive as anyone. She sprints the floor for spot-up 3-pointers, attacks the rim hard and is willing to guard anyone defensively.
The 5-11 guard Dumont plays with a fundamental flair. She sets up others and has a knack for creating her own pull-up jumper.
Smykovskaia, meanwhile, has created buzz over the past few months. A 6-5 center of Russian descent who moved to Spain, she competed for the silver medal-winning 2026 Spanish U17 World Cup team. She also played for Spain at the U18 European Championship, where she was the leading rebounder. Her biggest strength is her outstanding offensive rebounding.
Previous ranking: Unranked
No. 40 Brieana Brown, W
No. 65 Corrine Lomax, W
No. 82 Ashley Vande Ven, F
Four-star Celsy Colombo, F/P
After finishing with the No. 17 recruiting class in 2026, second-year coach Becky Burke is working on another impressive group. Brown is a 6-foot wing with a high motor and emerging perimeter game to complement her finishing ability and knockdown pull-up jumper.
Fellow 6-foot wing Lomax boosted her profile this summer after adding more skill on the perimeter and offensive production to go along with her hard-charging defensive mindset.
Vande Ven is a smooth, skilled 6-2 Canadian forward who stretches the floor with her 3-point shooting. Colombo is a 6-3 forward/post who uses her frame and length to make an impact in the paint, although she can step out and take catch-and-shoot 3s as well.
