W
Wes Mitchell
Guest
** As South Carolina coach Frank Martin has guided his program to more and more wins each year, that's given Martin and his staff more access to players who weren't previously interested in the program and a better chance at landing prospects who have other major offers.
That's led to what is arguably Martin's most talented, deepest class in 2017. With South Carolina's Sweet 16 run, and a marque win over national power Duke, that should only open more doors for the Gamecocks' staff moving forward.
There's clearly no bigger name out there than Spartanburg (S.C.) Spartanburg Day School class of 2018 five-star wing Zion Williamson, who Martin and staff have made a huge priority to this point. Make no mistake that Williamson is paying attention to the Carolina program and the run that it's currently on and I've been told recently that the Gamecocks are much more in the game here than once believed.
One source believes that Williamson's recruitment will actually come down to South Carolina and Clemson, though it's been cautioned to me that there's a long way to go and this thing could take many turns along the way.
Williamson's step dad, Lee Anderson, who is very influential in his recruiting process, recently spoke to Phil Kornbult and had the following to say:
“South Carolina has been in contact with me recently. They feel like they have a good shot at this thing. I think when Zion went to Carolina on the visit and they rolled out the love that they did to him, that did something to him. That kind of softened him up. Wherever he was with South Carolina at that time, it softened him up because that’s all he talks about. And of course Clemson, he’s so familiar with Clemson because he’s been going up there a lot, even before the recruitment started. Both of the in-state schools, they are in good shape.”
One thing that is not lost on Williamson is the opportunity to represent for his home state. Even before he became the biggest name in high school basketball, Williamson had often talked about the desire to put on for the state of South Carolina. The success of home grown talents like Sindarius Thornwell and P.J. Dozier can't hurt. Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA are still schools to keep an eye on, but it doesn't appear the Gamecocks (or Clemson) can be counted out yet.
** Another in-state name to watch for South Carolina in the class of 2018 is Florence (S.C.) West Florence three-star point guard Sharone Wright Jr. Wright, whose father played at Clemson, holds offers from the Gamecocks and Tigers plus Auburn, Cal, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, UCF, VCU and Wake Forest.
At 6-foot-5 with NBA bloodlines, Wright has excellent length to play point guard and is considered one of the top 100 players in his class by some. Wright recently visited South Carolina and the Gamecocks have made him a big priority. Despite the fact his dad played at Clemson, the Gamecocks are very much in this one.
** One of the state's emerging prospects to keep an eye on is Kershaw (S.C.) Andrew Jackson wing Dontarius D.J. James, who doesn't yet have an offer from the Gamecocks but is receiving interest from Martin and Co. The 6-foot-7, 215-pounder covets an offer from South Carolina and could see his recruitment blow up before its all over with. James has a unique skillset with great athletic ability and a shooting touch. James visited South Carolina for the Georgia game along with Williamson.
** There's been a lot of talk about former Columbia (S.C.) Dreher standout Tevin Mack and if he could possibly end up at South Carolina. It still looks like Mack will end up at either Georgia or South Carolina with the latest information I've heard pointing towards the Bulldogs.
That's led to what is arguably Martin's most talented, deepest class in 2017. With South Carolina's Sweet 16 run, and a marque win over national power Duke, that should only open more doors for the Gamecocks' staff moving forward.
There's clearly no bigger name out there than Spartanburg (S.C.) Spartanburg Day School class of 2018 five-star wing Zion Williamson, who Martin and staff have made a huge priority to this point. Make no mistake that Williamson is paying attention to the Carolina program and the run that it's currently on and I've been told recently that the Gamecocks are much more in the game here than once believed.
One source believes that Williamson's recruitment will actually come down to South Carolina and Clemson, though it's been cautioned to me that there's a long way to go and this thing could take many turns along the way.
Williamson's step dad, Lee Anderson, who is very influential in his recruiting process, recently spoke to Phil Kornbult and had the following to say:
“South Carolina has been in contact with me recently. They feel like they have a good shot at this thing. I think when Zion went to Carolina on the visit and they rolled out the love that they did to him, that did something to him. That kind of softened him up. Wherever he was with South Carolina at that time, it softened him up because that’s all he talks about. And of course Clemson, he’s so familiar with Clemson because he’s been going up there a lot, even before the recruitment started. Both of the in-state schools, they are in good shape.”
One thing that is not lost on Williamson is the opportunity to represent for his home state. Even before he became the biggest name in high school basketball, Williamson had often talked about the desire to put on for the state of South Carolina. The success of home grown talents like Sindarius Thornwell and P.J. Dozier can't hurt. Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA are still schools to keep an eye on, but it doesn't appear the Gamecocks (or Clemson) can be counted out yet.
** Another in-state name to watch for South Carolina in the class of 2018 is Florence (S.C.) West Florence three-star point guard Sharone Wright Jr. Wright, whose father played at Clemson, holds offers from the Gamecocks and Tigers plus Auburn, Cal, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, UCF, VCU and Wake Forest.
At 6-foot-5 with NBA bloodlines, Wright has excellent length to play point guard and is considered one of the top 100 players in his class by some. Wright recently visited South Carolina and the Gamecocks have made him a big priority. Despite the fact his dad played at Clemson, the Gamecocks are very much in this one.
** One of the state's emerging prospects to keep an eye on is Kershaw (S.C.) Andrew Jackson wing Dontarius D.J. James, who doesn't yet have an offer from the Gamecocks but is receiving interest from Martin and Co. The 6-foot-7, 215-pounder covets an offer from South Carolina and could see his recruitment blow up before its all over with. James has a unique skillset with great athletic ability and a shooting touch. James visited South Carolina for the Georgia game along with Williamson.
** There's been a lot of talk about former Columbia (S.C.) Dreher standout Tevin Mack and if he could possibly end up at South Carolina. It still looks like Mack will end up at either Georgia or South Carolina with the latest information I've heard pointing towards the Bulldogs.
