Ole Miss women’s basketball program has secured a standout recruit for the 2025-26 season, as Lauren Jacobs has been named South Carolina’s 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year.
Jacobs, a senior at Heathwood Hall High School, becomes the third athlete from her school to receive this prestigious honor. The last player from Heathwood Hall to earn the accolade was A’ja Wilson in 2014, who later became a star at South Carolina and a three-time WNBA MVP.
During her final high school season, Jacobs played a crucial role in leading her team to the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) Class 4A semifinals. She delivered an impressive performance, averaging 25.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 2.4 assists per game. By the end of her high school career, she had accumulated an outstanding total of 2,164 points.
ESPN’s HoopGurlz rankings for the Class of 2025 rate Jacobs as a four-star recruit, placing her 83rd overall among high school players nationwide.
In addition to her high school achievements, Jacobs is also a key player for Wilson Elite 17U, her club team, where she is the leading scorer. The Columbia, South Carolina native has received multiple player-of-the-game honors while competing at the club level.
As Jacobs prepares to join the program in the future, Ole Miss women’s basketball is aiming for its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The team will find out if they have secured a spot when the selections are announced on March 16 at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.