Zaniya Johnson, the No. 18 prospect and the third-ranked post in the 2027 SC Next 100, has committed to South Carolina, she announced Wednesday.
The 6-foot-4 post from Biloxi High School (Mississippi) chose the Gamecocks over one other finalist, LSU.
One of the most physically imposing interior prospects in the 2027 class, Johnson joins Jezelle "GG" Banks (SC Next 100 No. 4) and Taylor Brown (SC Next 100 No. 30) as Dawn Staley's third recruit this cycle, giving the Gamecocks the No. 1 recruiting class currently. She projects to be a true interior presence for the program, with proven production and the physical tools to compete at the college level.
"I truly believe [South Carolina] has everything I need and more to grow both on and off the court," Johnson told ESPN. "South Carolina has a proven track record of developing post players, and having the opportunity to be part of a program like that was something I couldn't pass up."
Part of Biloxi's varsity rotation since she was in middle school -- and a regular starter since her sophomore year -- Johnson averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per game last season. She helped the school win the Region 4-7A championship with a 28-1 record and a program-record 27-game winning streak.
Johnson's defining trait is her ability to establish and maintain position in the post. Defensively, her presence on the floor discourages direct drives and allows teammates to apply more pressure on the perimeter.
Her college ceiling will be determined by what's next: improvement in conditioning, lateral mobility and defensive coverage range. She can also add to her face-up game.
Since 2021, Staley has consistently recruited top-five classes, including 16 five-star prospects and 14 McDonald's All Americans. This has created massive depth in the program, a highly competitive environment looking to churn out pros at all positions. The Gamecocks are still in the mix for No. 7 Jordyn Palmer, who will announce her decision on Friday and is also considering Ohio State, Penn State and UCLA.
