C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
South Carolina's 2021 class is nearing completion with three commitments in the boat currently, which means attention turns to the 2022 class for a little as the Gamecocks begin building that recruiting board.
It's still very early in the process for these players, who are all rising juniors, and it's not a complete list of the players South Carolina's reached out to over the last three months but here are some notable names to know as the cycle begins for the 2022 class.
Chris Livingston
National rank: 3
Livingston’s is new on the radar, at least publicly, with the 6-foot-6 guard telling Rivals South Carolina is one of three teams showing the most interest in him with Tennessee State and Memphis the others while Ohio State is “laying back a little bit.”
It remains to be seen just how much South Carolina will be involved as things go along, but it’s an early name to be aware of in the class and will be interesting to track the Gamecocks’ involvement.
Eric Dailey
National rank: 34
Dailey is one of the best wings and power forwards in the country at 6-foot-7, 205 pounds and told Knowledge Hoops South Carolina started showing interest in him this August along with Iowa State, Michigan and Miami.
He also has a litany of offers fro the likes of Alabama, Florida, Miami, Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida State among others.
Donovan Clingan
National rank: 46
Clingan was one of the first offers in the 2022 class, getting his offer at the end of July and is turning into a big piece of the Gamecocks’ recruiting board for the 2022 class.
The true 7-footer plays at Bristol Central in Connecticut, and the Gamecock coaching staff has connections to the schools in that area with Frank Martin having coached up there and Chuck Martin being from the area. They’ve both recruited that area heavily and Clingan is the newest recruit on their board from there.
He’s getting more attention from big schools like Indiana, Virginia Tech, Iona, Connecticut, Syracuse and Michigan State but South Carolina should be in the mix throughout most of his recruitment.
Julian Phillips
National rank: 51
Phillips is one of the highest-priority targets on the board being an in-state target who’s considered a top 100 prospect (and rising) out of Blythewood. He’s been on campus multiple times for team camps and unofficial visits and, in large part, has been receptive to what South Carolina’s saying.
He’s drawn to playing for a hometown team but it won’t be the penultimate factor in his decision making process, but South Carolina’s putting on the full court press for him.
De’Ante Green
National rank: 83
Another recent offer in the 2022 class, Green is one of the better big men in the class at 6-foot-9 with attention from the Gamecocks in recent weeks.
He has ties to the Gamecock program with family from South Carolina and played at the same high school, Christ School, at Lakeem Jackson and is close with the former Gamecock.
Green is a typical stretch four with rebounding prowess, ball-handling skills and the ability to step out and hit threes at a consistent clip. He’s getting attention from NC State, Texas A&M, Florida and a few other schools as well.
Perry Smith Jr.
National rank: 144
Smith Jr. is a guy who’s been on the Gamecocks’ radar for years now, picking up an offer recently, which was something that had been building for a while. Smith Jr. is in the middle of a really strong summer that saw him get attention from Virginia Tech, Iona, Texas A&M and Marquette showing interest.
He plays at Legacy Charter, the same school that produced Jalyn McCreary and 2021 commitment Jacobi Wright, and said he’s close with McCreary and a few players on South Carolina’s roster currently.
Jazian Gortman
Of all the guys on the list, Gortman is having arguably the best summer of anyone, going from relatively unheard of to having three high-major offers with one of those being from the Gamecocks.
Bruce Shingler did a good job getting in early with Gortman and his family and South Carolina’s been recruiting him for a while. Gortman’s also has family who played at South Carolina and would be receptive to staying home to play.
Christian Reeves
Reeves is another semi-local prospect out of Charlotte, North Carolina and actually plays on the same AAU team as Green. A big man the Gamecocks have tracked for some time now, he sits at 7-foot, 220 pounds.
Seeing him play, he’s a rim protector with a good defensive game that can finish around the rim as well. The Gamecocks haven’t offered yet but have been in contact since schools could reach out to rising juniors.
It's still very early in the process for these players, who are all rising juniors, and it's not a complete list of the players South Carolina's reached out to over the last three months but here are some notable names to know as the cycle begins for the 2022 class.
Chris Livingston
National rank: 3
Livingston’s is new on the radar, at least publicly, with the 6-foot-6 guard telling Rivals South Carolina is one of three teams showing the most interest in him with Tennessee State and Memphis the others while Ohio State is “laying back a little bit.”
It remains to be seen just how much South Carolina will be involved as things go along, but it’s an early name to be aware of in the class and will be interesting to track the Gamecocks’ involvement.
Eric Dailey
National rank: 34
Dailey is one of the best wings and power forwards in the country at 6-foot-7, 205 pounds and told Knowledge Hoops South Carolina started showing interest in him this August along with Iowa State, Michigan and Miami.
He also has a litany of offers fro the likes of Alabama, Florida, Miami, Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida State among others.
Donovan Clingan
National rank: 46
Clingan was one of the first offers in the 2022 class, getting his offer at the end of July and is turning into a big piece of the Gamecocks’ recruiting board for the 2022 class.
The true 7-footer plays at Bristol Central in Connecticut, and the Gamecock coaching staff has connections to the schools in that area with Frank Martin having coached up there and Chuck Martin being from the area. They’ve both recruited that area heavily and Clingan is the newest recruit on their board from there.
He’s getting more attention from big schools like Indiana, Virginia Tech, Iona, Connecticut, Syracuse and Michigan State but South Carolina should be in the mix throughout most of his recruitment.
Julian Phillips
National rank: 51
Phillips is one of the highest-priority targets on the board being an in-state target who’s considered a top 100 prospect (and rising) out of Blythewood. He’s been on campus multiple times for team camps and unofficial visits and, in large part, has been receptive to what South Carolina’s saying.
He’s drawn to playing for a hometown team but it won’t be the penultimate factor in his decision making process, but South Carolina’s putting on the full court press for him.
De’Ante Green
National rank: 83
Another recent offer in the 2022 class, Green is one of the better big men in the class at 6-foot-9 with attention from the Gamecocks in recent weeks.
He has ties to the Gamecock program with family from South Carolina and played at the same high school, Christ School, at Lakeem Jackson and is close with the former Gamecock.
Green is a typical stretch four with rebounding prowess, ball-handling skills and the ability to step out and hit threes at a consistent clip. He’s getting attention from NC State, Texas A&M, Florida and a few other schools as well.
Perry Smith Jr.
National rank: 144
Smith Jr. is a guy who’s been on the Gamecocks’ radar for years now, picking up an offer recently, which was something that had been building for a while. Smith Jr. is in the middle of a really strong summer that saw him get attention from Virginia Tech, Iona, Texas A&M and Marquette showing interest.
He plays at Legacy Charter, the same school that produced Jalyn McCreary and 2021 commitment Jacobi Wright, and said he’s close with McCreary and a few players on South Carolina’s roster currently.
Jazian Gortman
Of all the guys on the list, Gortman is having arguably the best summer of anyone, going from relatively unheard of to having three high-major offers with one of those being from the Gamecocks.
Bruce Shingler did a good job getting in early with Gortman and his family and South Carolina’s been recruiting him for a while. Gortman’s also has family who played at South Carolina and would be receptive to staying home to play.
Christian Reeves
Reeves is another semi-local prospect out of Charlotte, North Carolina and actually plays on the same AAU team as Green. A big man the Gamecocks have tracked for some time now, he sits at 7-foot, 220 pounds.
Seeing him play, he’s a rim protector with a good defensive game that can finish around the rim as well. The Gamecocks haven’t offered yet but have been in contact since schools could reach out to rising juniors.
