South Carolina women's basketball makes top 12 for ZaKiyah Johnson

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2025 top-five recruit ZaKiyah Johnson named South Carolina one of her 12 finalists.

Johnson is a 6-0 guard from Shelbyville, KY. South Carolina first offered Johnson in July of 2022. She has been ranked as high as second in the class. Johnson averaged 22 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists as a sophomore and is an elite defender. She is a two-time Gatorade state player of the year.

The rest of Johnson’s top 12 is LSU, Notre Dame, Georgia, Southern Cal, UConn, Louisville, Arizona, Ohio State, Tennessee, UCLA, and Mississippi State. She made the announcement on social media.

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Notably absent is Kentucky. Along with the Cardinals, the Wildcats have had their eye on Johnson for a long time. Coach Kyra Elzy’s seat was already warm going into this season, and being shunned by an instate recruit, especially when recruiting is Elzy’s forte, is going to turn up the heat even more.

Johnson made the announcement days before the 2024 early signing period begins. Because of the timing, most of the focus has been on final recruiting pushes for 2024 recruits rather than 2025 targets.

South Carolina also made the top 11 for 2025’s third-ranked recruit, Sienna Betts.

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