South Mississippi basketball star lands offer from three-time national champion
Two of the top girls basketball products ever to emerge from South Mississippi are both in the 2027 class and one just received an offer from a three-time national champion coach.
Biloxi forward Zaniya Johnson announced Friday she had received an official scholarship offer from Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks.
The last blue chip basketball prospect from the Coast to receive an offer from a national championship-winning program was Devin Booker from Moss Point in the 2014 class.
Johnson is a four-star prospect and is ESPN’s No. 17-ranked player in the ‘27 class. South Carolina is the 18th D-1 program to offer her a scholarship, joining Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn and Miami among others.
She’s the reigning two-time Sun Herald Player of the Year after averaging 14.5 points and 8.6 rebounds a game in 2025. Johnson eclipsed 1,000 career points early in her sophomore campaign and is closing in on 1,000 career rebounds.
Johnson’s recruitment is still open, but her suitors give her an opportunity to compete for a national championship. The last women’s player from Mississippi to win a D-1 title was Pashen Thompson from Philadelphia, MS in 1998 with Tennessee.
Ranked just behind Johnson is Harrison Central’s Saniyah Murray at No. 18 in ESPN’s Super 60. Murray holds offers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Clemson and others.
Johnson’s teammate and fellow ‘27 prospect Jayla Carriere has also seen her stock rise and currently holds offers from Jackson State and Providence.
This story was originally published August 4, 2025 at 12:13 PM.
