Top-rated recruit from DC expresses interest in Dawn Staley and South Carolina WBB

Breaking news, Coach Dawn Staley and the No. 6 South Carolina women’s basketball team have made a major stride in the recruitment process with a highly anticipated prospect. Five-star forward Jordyn Jackson, a standout from Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., has listed South Carolina among her top six schools for her future college decision.

On January 31, Jackson narrowed down her choices to South Carolina, Alabama, Maryland, Miami, TCU, and Ohio State. The 6-foot-1 junior is ranked the No. 9 recruit in the 2026 class by espnW and is also rated the No. 2 small forward and No. 8 overall player by 247Sports.

Speaking to On3 Sports’ Talia Goodman, Jackson expressed her hopes to finalize her commitment by July, ideally before the Nike Nationals AAU event late in the month. “I think I’d develop as a player and as a person tremendously there,” Jackson remarked, praising the program’s ability to elevate players. “Everybody gets better there. I think I’d get better there,” she added.

Jackson, who has already taken an official visit to Maryland, has not yet made her visit to South Carolina public but hinted it will happen soon. In a response to a South Carolina fan on X (formerly Twitter), Jackson teased her future trip, posting a GIF with the caption, “You just wait.”

As for her game, Jackson is an explosive force on the court, primarily playing as a small forward and power forward. This season, she’s averaging 19.7 points and 6.7 rebounds, both career-highs, alongside 2 assists and nearly a steal per game for Sidwell Friends, who currently stand at 22-3. She recently surpassed 1,000 career points and is shooting a career-best 42% from the field and 32% from three-point range.

Brandon Clay, 247Sports’ women’s basketball lead scout, notes that Jackson’s blend of size and mobility makes her a potential “consistent factor on the perimeter” with the ability to develop into a high-level defender.

Meanwhile, Coach Staley and her staff are keeping their eyes on other top-tier recruits. Last month, they hosted Oliviyah Edwards, a 6-foot-3 forward from Washington, who ranks as the No. 1 post player in the 2026 class and is known for her dunking ability since middle school. The Gamecocks are also closely linked to Kate Harpring, a five-star guard, McKenna Woliczko, a five-star post player, and Kaeli Wynn, a four-star wing.

In the 2025 recruiting class, South Carolina has already secured a commitment from Ayla McDowell, a four-star wing from Cypress Springs (Texas) High School, who was named a McDonald’s All-American.

As the Gamecocks continue to recruit elite talent, they have also positioned themselves to potentially sign one or two players from the transfer portal after the 2024-25 season. No commitments have been made yet for the 2026 class, but Staley and the Gamecocks are certainly making waves.