C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
It's been a busy time for the Gamecock basketball program with the Gamecocks working on nailing down their 2020 class and getting a jump start on the 2021/22 classes as well.
The entire staff's been on the road recruiting as of late, with a focus at least last weekend on in-state recruiting, which included hosting a few in-state guys as well.
--The Gamecocks had Rivals150 forward P.J. Hall on campus Thursday for an unofficial visit where he was able to get a better look at campus and the other stuff around the program he might not have gotten during visits for games or to watch practice.
He was able to get some one-on-one time with Frank Martin and he's very high up on the Gamecocks' with the need for a post player in the 2020 class a priority. He was also able to talk some with Trae Hannibal, another in-state guy, about the program.
South Carolina's been very consistent in their message with Hall and are definitely in the mix along with a few other schools, most notably Tennessee, Clemson and Florida with Virginia Tech also coming on strong with Mike Young really mining South Carolina hard.
This is what we had on Hall recently from the Top 100 camp, and it seems like Tennessee right now is trying to make a push but South Carolina is still very much in the thick of things here.
In terms of a decision, he'll probably cut his list down after the AAU season and said wants to make one before his senior season, which will start in October/November. He's working to set up a visit to Tennessee.
--Wes reported it yesterday and the offer made its rounds on social media, but the Gamecocks offered four-star 2021 guard Bryce McGowens out of Wren High School in the upstate after an unofficial Wednesday.
He's a guy that impressed at the Gamecocks' team camp and has taken a few other unofficials recently and has picked up a slew of offers as of late. His brother, Trey, plays for Pittsburgh.
--Another guy Frank Martin watched personally this weekend was John Butler Jr., who debuted the other week as the No. 54 overall player in the 2021 class. He's a legacy—both his parents went to South Carolina—and his recruitment is starting to pick up a little more with Tennessee and Memphis getting in the mix. Martin was able to watch him multiple times on the weekend.
This was the recap Butler gave us the other day. He's currently in St. Louis for a Nike EYBL Top 100 camp and will get a tour of those facilities there with St. Louis a team that's hopped into his recruitment recently.
--Ridge View 2020 power forward Ja'Von Benson, who took an unofficial to South Carolina recently, was at the event the last weekend and Martin watched him play some Sunday. He's definitely on the Gamecocks' radar along with a few other bigs they're pursuing in this class.
He's teammates with 2021 point guard Tyler Rice, who's gotten some South Carolina attention recently and has been on campus multiple times for unofficial visits.
--We reported it and it's a name to watch, but Julian Phillips is a name to watch in the 2022 class that the Gamecocks really like and has been on campus for team camps and seen the facility. He's getting a little bit of interest from South Carolina, Iowa State and Oklahoma State but his recruitment will take off as he gets closer to graduating.
He's long, athletic and fits really well what Martin likes in a guard.
--Martin also took some time to watch Korey Richardson, who's a 2022 point guard and was going up against Myles Tate in Sunday's action. Both are guys the Gamecocks are pursuing and Tate was recently on a visit, recapping it here.
--It's not in-state, but Earl Timberlake continues to blow up, picking up offers recently from a few schools, most notably North Carolina. I know he likes South Carolina a lot and South Carolina likes him and his game.
Reminder of scholarship numbers: Right now the Gamecocks have two scholarships to recruit with in the 2020 class and are losing Maik Kotsar and Micaiah Henry, so it'll be important to get at least one big in the class. If AJ Lawson goes pro, then they'll have three scholarships. Seventh Woods is expected to go on scholarship for the 2020 class which would take away one of those spots.
The entire staff's been on the road recruiting as of late, with a focus at least last weekend on in-state recruiting, which included hosting a few in-state guys as well.
--The Gamecocks had Rivals150 forward P.J. Hall on campus Thursday for an unofficial visit where he was able to get a better look at campus and the other stuff around the program he might not have gotten during visits for games or to watch practice.
He was able to get some one-on-one time with Frank Martin and he's very high up on the Gamecocks' with the need for a post player in the 2020 class a priority. He was also able to talk some with Trae Hannibal, another in-state guy, about the program.
South Carolina's been very consistent in their message with Hall and are definitely in the mix along with a few other schools, most notably Tennessee, Clemson and Florida with Virginia Tech also coming on strong with Mike Young really mining South Carolina hard.
This is what we had on Hall recently from the Top 100 camp, and it seems like Tennessee right now is trying to make a push but South Carolina is still very much in the thick of things here.
In terms of a decision, he'll probably cut his list down after the AAU season and said wants to make one before his senior season, which will start in October/November. He's working to set up a visit to Tennessee.
--Wes reported it yesterday and the offer made its rounds on social media, but the Gamecocks offered four-star 2021 guard Bryce McGowens out of Wren High School in the upstate after an unofficial Wednesday.
He's a guy that impressed at the Gamecocks' team camp and has taken a few other unofficials recently and has picked up a slew of offers as of late. His brother, Trey, plays for Pittsburgh.
--Another guy Frank Martin watched personally this weekend was John Butler Jr., who debuted the other week as the No. 54 overall player in the 2021 class. He's a legacy—both his parents went to South Carolina—and his recruitment is starting to pick up a little more with Tennessee and Memphis getting in the mix. Martin was able to watch him multiple times on the weekend.
This was the recap Butler gave us the other day. He's currently in St. Louis for a Nike EYBL Top 100 camp and will get a tour of those facilities there with St. Louis a team that's hopped into his recruitment recently.
--Ridge View 2020 power forward Ja'Von Benson, who took an unofficial to South Carolina recently, was at the event the last weekend and Martin watched him play some Sunday. He's definitely on the Gamecocks' radar along with a few other bigs they're pursuing in this class.
He's teammates with 2021 point guard Tyler Rice, who's gotten some South Carolina attention recently and has been on campus multiple times for unofficial visits.
--We reported it and it's a name to watch, but Julian Phillips is a name to watch in the 2022 class that the Gamecocks really like and has been on campus for team camps and seen the facility. He's getting a little bit of interest from South Carolina, Iowa State and Oklahoma State but his recruitment will take off as he gets closer to graduating.
He's long, athletic and fits really well what Martin likes in a guard.
--Martin also took some time to watch Korey Richardson, who's a 2022 point guard and was going up against Myles Tate in Sunday's action. Both are guys the Gamecocks are pursuing and Tate was recently on a visit, recapping it here.
--It's not in-state, but Earl Timberlake continues to blow up, picking up offers recently from a few schools, most notably North Carolina. I know he likes South Carolina a lot and South Carolina likes him and his game.
Reminder of scholarship numbers: Right now the Gamecocks have two scholarships to recruit with in the 2020 class and are losing Maik Kotsar and Micaiah Henry, so it'll be important to get at least one big in the class. If AJ Lawson goes pro, then they'll have three scholarships. Seventh Woods is expected to go on scholarship for the 2020 class which would take away one of those spots.
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