Dawn Staley with Zaniya Johnson, a 5-star center, at South Carolina football game

COLUMBIA — Dawn Staley has brought yet another South Carolina women's basketball prospect to a football game.

Staley was spotted with five-star recruit Zaniya Johnson , a 6-foot-4 center, on the sideline before the game against Kentucky on Oct. 3. Johnson is on her official visit to the program and was first spotted in Columbia on Oct. 2, according her social media.

Staley, Tessa Johnson and Joyce Edwards were the celebrity starters before the game, hyping up the crowd. Staley's assistants and a few other players such as Kaeli Wynn and Jerzy Robinson were seen with Zaniya Johnson.

This news comes right after four-star point guard Taylor Brown announced her commitment to the program at 2 p.m., making her the first of the 2027 cycle for Staley. She picked the Gamecocks over Tennessee and North Carolina.

Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions

Johnson is ranked No. 18 in ESPN's Class of 2027 rankings and narrowed her list to five schools: South Carolina, LSU, Florida State, Texas A&M and Mississippi State.

She's from Biloxi, Mississippi, and plays for Biloxi High School. She received an offer from Staley in August 2025. Staley most recently saw her play for Team Untamed in the Pro-16 Finals in July.

Staley had five-stars Jordyn Palmer and GG Banks , and Brown in town on Sept. 19, bringing them to the Gamecocks' football game vs Mississippi State.

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com . Follow her on X @Lulukesin and Bluesky ‪@bylulukesin.bsky.social‬