W
Wes Mitchell
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** York Prep now-class of 2018 four-star center D.J. Burns had mentioned the possibility of taking some other official visits, but from what I've been told, that's not going to happen and Burns is closing in on making a decision -- in fact, I'm told he could render a decision as early as this week.
This has been a South Carolina-Tennessee battle for some time now and it's down to those final two schools with each making its final pitches to the big-time prospect. So which way will it go when Burns makes his final decision? He's working through that right now and it's extremely close. I would say that for a large portion of the recruiting process Burns probably thought he was headed to Tennessee and had that in his mind.
But South Carolina has done an outstanding job during the closing weeks of Burns' recruitment of pointing out all of the logical reasons why staying closer to home for the home team makes a lot of sense and the Gamecocks hold the edge in almost all of the common sense categories (meaning logistical factors). While I've mentioned it several times that Carolina has had the momentum, I frankly could see this going either way. I've mentioned several times that Burns is a family oriented kid, and he's got a lot of family in the state who would get to see him play if he stays home... so if you made me predict one or the other at this exact moment, I would pick the Gamecocks but wouldn't quite feel comfortable in that yet.
** South Carolina defensive line coach Lance Thompson was in Anderson on Monday to watch T.L. Hanna practice as the Gamecocks, of course, continue to make five-star defensive end Zacch Pickens a top priority. I continue to hear that Carolina is in the best shape here with Georgia and Clemson rounding out the top three and Alabama as a bit of a darkhorse.
** South Carolina quarterbacks coach Dan Werner is taking a national approach to recruiting the quarterback position and last week made the trek to watch Boulder (Co.) class of 2020 quarterback Aiden Atkinson throw. Werner was impressed enough to offer the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder who also holds offers from Akron, Boise State, Ole Miss, Nevada and Colorado, where former Carolina OC Kurt Roper currently runs the offense.
Atkinson had a good first impression of Werner, likes the Gamecocks graduation rate that's been promoted on Twitter lately, and thinks he'd be a good fit for the scheme. He also wants to take a visit to the school, but admits that he's not sure when he will be able to make that trek and says he'll primarily be focused on getting ready for his current team's season this summer. Atkinson seems interested in the offer, but the first hurdle for the Gamecocks will be to find Atkinson time to get to Columbia.
** South Carolina extended an offer to Hartsville (S.C.) class of 2019 point guard Trae Hannibal on Tuesday night and that's an offer that the 6-foot-2, 170-pounder has wanted for some time. South Carolina likely makes the early move into the top position for Hannibal here and word is he may even be on commit watch for an early pledge.
Hannibal has not yet been ranked by Rivals, but he's a four-star type talent who could give the Gamecocks a great start to their 2019 in-state class if they can land him. Hannibal also has offers from Oklahoma State, College of Charleston, S.C. State, Stetson, Wofford and Western Carolina.
ALSO SEE: Gamecocks Offer Tracker - May 14-20
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