Ryan Carter’s commitment gives North Carolina a third straight year of recruiting five-star backcourt players. Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty ImagesShane LaflinMultiple AuthorsOct 12, 2026, 07:00 PM ETOpen Extended ReactionsIn four weeks, the early signing window (Nov. 11-18) will open for high school recruits, and 2027-28 rosters will begin to take shape. How many five-stars will be off the board by then? So far, 12 of the 21 top-rated recruits in the SC Next class of 2027 have announced where they will play basketball after high school.As key players continue to make decisions about their basketball careers, we’ll keep making way-too-early projections about those fits, and how they are shaping the future of women’s college basketball.Players are ordered by rank below. Jump to the most recent commitment here.See the SC Next class of 2027 rankings hereCaroline Bradley, C2027 SC Next 60 ranking: 3 Committed to: LSU Commitment date: April 6, 2026Background: The highest rated post in the country, Bradley chose her home state LSU Tigers over the likes of Alabama, UCLA, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Duke, South Carolina and Texas A&M.
Bradley was a member of the U16 USA Basketball Junior National team that won gold at FIBA Americas last summer. She looks to repeat that experience this summer with the U17 Women’s FIBA World Cup team in July. Bradley is the highest-rated recruit from the state of Louisiana since LSU guard Mikaylah Williams in 2023.How she fits: Bradley will be the next foundational player inside for a program known for its interior style of play. Her rugged and physical nature will fit in well with what is expected of Mulkey’s bigs at LSU.
As it currently stands, when Bradley arrives on campus, she will join forwards Grace Knox and ZaKiyah Johnson as a major contributor. To complement Bradley, the Tigers may continue to look to bolster their perimeter depth in the 2027 class.Jezelle “GG” Banks, PG2027 SCNext 100 ranking: 4 Committed to: South Carolina Commitment date: Oct. 10, 2026Background: The second-ranked point guard in the country, Banks chose South Carolina over Texas and LSU, and is the highest-rated point guard to commit to South Carolina since Raven Johnson (2021). After spending her first two high school seasons at Ursuline Academy (Delaware), she transferred to The St. James Performance Academy (D.C.), leading the first-year program to the Chipotle Nationals.
She was a standout at the Nike EYBL this past summer and also helped Team USA win a gold medal at the women’s U18 FIBA AmeriCup. She also won the WNBA All-Star weekend’s Shooting Stars competition alongside Elena Delle Donne and Shakira Austin.How she fits: The average height of the current South Carolina roster is over 6-foot-2, but the Gamecocks currently lack a traditional point guard. Banks, at 5-10, has the opportunity to be the lead guard on a roster full of extremely athletic and interchangeable players. With the presumed return of proven stars Joyce Edwards, Jordan Lee and Agot Makeer — as well as any number of the second-ranked 2026 recruiting class — Banks’ style of play and elite point guard skills should enhance South Carolina on both ends of the floor.Eve Long, F2027 SC Next 60 ranking: 5 Committed to: Notre Dame Commitment date: May 20, 2026Background: The USA U16 Junior National Team gold medalist chose Notre Dame over UConn and UCLA, giving Niele Ivey and the Fighting Irish their first commitment in the 2027 class, and their highest-ranked recruit since Kate Koval in 2024.
The 6-3 Long was named to the All-Star Five at the 2025 FIBA Americas competition and looks to run it back with the U17 USA Team in July in Czechia. She has had a breakout year that included being named the Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year and, most recently, scoring 52 points on the Adidas 3SSB circuit in April.How she fits: Notre Dame has the No. 5 recruiting class for 2026, a forward-heavy group headlined by five-star Jacy Abii. When she arrives on campus next fall, however, Long will be the most talented prospect among the group, and will bring a multifaceted game that will pair well with Abii and sharpshooter Jenica Lewis.Micah Ojo, W2027 SCNext 100 ranking: 6 Committed to: North Carolina Commitment date: Oct. 8, 2026Background: Ojo chooses the Tar Heels over finalists Duke and Vanderbilt. She has a résumé chock full of wins: multiple Virginia state championships, two gold medals with USA Basketball and a Power 24 independent club circuit championship with YKS.
This summer with Team USA’s U17 World Cup team, she averaged 11 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists en route to being named to the tournament’s second team. She is also the reigning Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year.How she fits: Ojo will join a young but effective backcourt next fall. With star 2026 signee Kate Harpring presumably taking over the reins at point guard and wing Nyla Brooks (all-ACC freshman last season) returning to the lineup for her junior year, Ojo has a major opportunity to start. Her ability to guard multiple positions, rebound and initiate offense will help the Tar Heels, who like to run, space the floor and play out of transition.
With a fifth-year option for both finesse forward Cierra Toomey and physical forward Taissa Quieroz, Ojo’s commitment could position the Tar Heels for a return to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2014.Lauren Hassell, F2027 SCNext 60 ranking: 12 Committed to: Vanderbilt Commitment date: May 29, 2026Background: The daughter of NBA veteran Trenton Hassell, Lauren was also considering Louisville and North Carolina before ultimately picking the Commodores. She was named Ms. Basketball in the state of Tennessee after averaging 25.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.5 assist on 60% shooting from the field during her high school junior season. She is set to miss the summer club circuit after having ankle surgery, but should return for her senior high school season.
This is Vanderbilt’s first commitment in the 2027 class.How she fits: Hassell will join a lineup that is expected to see 2026 signee Jhai Johnson in the front court, as well as rising junior Mia Woolfolk, who transferred in from Georgia this offseason. Hassell will bring similar length as Johnson, with the physical aggressiveness of Woolfolk, and add the ability to stretch the floor and facilitate from the forward or post position as well. Look for Vandy to add some shooting and more perimeter punch around her as the 2027 recruiting cycle picks up.Ryan Carter, G2027 SCNext 100 ranking: 13 Committed to: North Carolina Commitment date: Oct. 12, 2026Background: Carter, the third-best guard in the 2027 class, holds the reputation as one of the more aggressive players off the bounce. She’s also another gold medalist (FIBA U18 women’s AmeriCup) get for the Tar Heels, committing four days after No. 6 Micah Ojo.
Over the course of a busy summer, Carter averaged 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists on the EYBL circuit and participated in the WNBA Shooting Stars contest with Rebekkah Brunson and the Minnesota Lynx’s Courtney Williams. Before that, she led Friends’ Central to its first Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association championship. She chose UNC over finalists Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Duke and Indiana.How she fits: This is the third straight year of signing five-star backcourt players for Courtney Banghart, after Nyla Brooks in 2025 and Kate Harpring in 2026. Carter and Harpring should play complimentary roles as physical defenders who rebound well and offensively put enormous pressure on the paint.
Consistency from Harpring, Brooks and Ojo will only add to Carter’s production value and overall decision-making going to the rim. Being around other players who can create and play at the same high tempo should help, and all four should help take the program to the next level. The next step for North Carolina would be the addition of a comparable interior player.Jayla Forbes, C2027 S
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