The early signing period for the 2027 class of women's basketball prospects opened on November 11, 2026, with a significant portion of the elite talent already committed. According to the latest SC Next rankings, 95 of the top 100 prospects have verbally pledged to their future universities. These players are eligible to officially sign with their schools between November 11 and November 18, allowing programs to announce their recruiting classes for the upcoming 2027-28 season.
The current landscape is dominated by a small group of elite programs. South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia Tech are tied for the most top-100 commitments, each securing four players. Nine programs have secured at least one five-star recruit, and 55 programs across 11 conferences are represented in the top-100 list. The high rate of early commitments is attributed to factors such as the influence of name, image, and likeness deals and the five-in-five eligibility rule, which permits athletes to remain in college for an additional year.
While South Carolina currently holds the No. 1 ranking, the top spot is not yet secure. UConn has made a strong push in the final weeks, securing the commitment of No. 9 prospect Sydney Savoury last week. The Huskies recently hosted three other top prospects for official visits: No. 1 Kaleena Smith, No. 3 Ivanna Wilson Manyacka, and No. 8 Haylen Ayers. If Geno Auriemma's team can land at least two of these three players, they would be strong contenders for the top class.
Other programs are also in contention for the remaining high-profile recruits. No. 11 Nation Williams is scheduled to announce her commitment on the evening of November 11. With UCLA and North Carolina still in the mix for Ivanna Wilson Manyacka, there is a possibility that either the Bruins or the Tar Heels could secure both players, giving them a claim to the top tier of the rankings. However, South Carolina is currently positioned on a tier of its own, having secured a balanced group of talent earlier in the fall.
The South Carolina class includes No. 4 Jezelle Banks, a point guard with playmaking ability, and No. 7 Jordyn Palmer, a versatile forward who won the MVP award at the FIBA U18 Women's AmeriCup. The Gamecocks also added No. 18 Zaniya Johnson, a physical post player, and No. 30 Taylor Brown, a guard who is recovering from an ACL injury but showed significant improvement in playmaking before her season ended.
Florida ranks second in the updated top 10, featuring No. 5 Eve Long, the highest-rated forward in the class, and No. 16 Avery Arije, an elite left-handed guard from Canada. The Gators also secured No. 36 Chasity Rice, a point guard from a winning high school program, and three-star forward Loren Macy. North Carolina holds the third spot, bolstered by No. 6 Micah Ojo, a two-time USA Basketball gold medalist, and No. 13 Ryan Carter, an aggressive guard with strong rebounding skills.
Northwestern enters the top 10 for the first time in this update, ranked fourth. The Wildcats committed No. 10 Qandace Samuels, a hybrid wing, and No. 14 Jayla Forbes, a prototypical big man. Baylor dropped from fourth to fifth place, with their class including No. 17 Miciah Fusilier and No. 19 Ogechi Okeke, both physical forwards, along with No. 49 Samari Holmen, a point guard returning from injury.
Tennessee ranks sixth, led by No. 26 Bella Owumi, a physical guard, and No. 25 Brookeslee Colvin, a point guard from Idaho. Indiana is tied for seventh with Virginia Tech. Indiana's class features No. 20 Azariah Jackson, a 6-foot-4 point forward who will sit out her senior year due to a knee injury, while Virginia Tech's class includes No. 35 Jazman Bailey, a speedy point guard with two USA Basketball gold medals.
UCLA and Arizona round out the top 10, both entering the rankings from an unranked status. UCLA's class includes No. 21 Finley Parcher and international recruit Anna Smykovskaia, a 6-foot-5 center from Spain. Arizona's group features No. 40 Brieana Brown and No. 65 Corrine Lomax, both wings with strong defensive and offensive capabilities, under the guidance of second-year coach Becky Burke.
These rankings are determined by a mathematical formula that weighs the quality and quantity of recruits in each class. As the signing period progresses, these lists may shift, but the current standings highlight the intense competition among the nation's top programs to build their rosters for the 2027-28 season.
