C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
--Two of the bigger prospects on the Gamecocks’ 2022 board are both in-state guys in Julian Phillips (Blythewood) and Jazian Gortman (Keenan). Both are top 50 prospects that were offered very early in the process by South Carolina.
Both are at least receptive of the Gamecocks’ message to them, and South Carolina should be in their recruitment for a while as they get into the teeth of making a decision and visits. Both are open to playing for their home town schools as well.
Phillips has been on the Gamecocks’ radar for a very long time and Gortman picked up an offer this summer before he skyrocketed up recruiting boards to No. 40 in the 2022 class. Phillips is picking up attention from Florida State, Kansas, Georgia Tech and Alabama, among many other high-major programs.
Gortman had a phenomenal summer after South Carolina offered him. Clemson, Florida State, Maryland, Wake Forest and Ole Miss have all at least expressed interest in the guard as well.
--The latest offer to get extended was against Rivals150 big man Jai Smith, who has a lot of interest in the South Carolina program. Will Bailey is handling the recruitment there but Frank Martin’s hopped in and is talking with Smith a little as well and Smith’s been very receptive of the head coach’s message.
He played this summer with 2021 commitment Jacobi Wright and is close with him, and Wright’s doing his own recruiting there. NC State seems to be the biggest competition currently, but Texas A&M and a few others are showing interest as well. The Gamecocks really like his game and have a very strong chance to make the cut when Smith cuts his list down.
--Another in-state recruit to watch is Perry Smith Jr., who is considered the No. 145 player in the country and had another strong summer. He plays at Legacy Charter with Wright and where Jalyn McCreary played and is pretty close with McCreary and Trae Hannibal as well.
The Gamecocks offered this summer along with Iona, Alabama and Marquette with Texas A&M showing interest as well.
--One of the highest-rated players who has at least expressed Gamecock interest is Chris Livingston, the No. 3 player in the country. He’s gone on record earlier this year in September saying South Carolina are one of the three schools he hears from the most along with Tennessee State and Memphis and Ohio State.
It remains to be seen how much traction the Gamecocks will have as the process goes along, but South Carolina’s standing out at least early.
--Christian Reeves, a 7-foot big man out of Charlotte, also has some interest in South Carolina and the Gamecocks are staying in contact with him over this odd dead period. He wants to get up to South Carolina for a game when the visit moratorium is lifted. The Gamecocks, he said, have expressed an interest to him in getting up and watching him practice.
Wake Forest are another school showing interest there as well.
--The Gamecocks also have offered top 50 big man Donovan Clingan and have worked hard in recruiting him along with Connecticut, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Ohio State and a few other Power 5 schools.
Both are at least receptive of the Gamecocks’ message to them, and South Carolina should be in their recruitment for a while as they get into the teeth of making a decision and visits. Both are open to playing for their home town schools as well.
Phillips has been on the Gamecocks’ radar for a very long time and Gortman picked up an offer this summer before he skyrocketed up recruiting boards to No. 40 in the 2022 class. Phillips is picking up attention from Florida State, Kansas, Georgia Tech and Alabama, among many other high-major programs.
Gortman had a phenomenal summer after South Carolina offered him. Clemson, Florida State, Maryland, Wake Forest and Ole Miss have all at least expressed interest in the guard as well.
--The latest offer to get extended was against Rivals150 big man Jai Smith, who has a lot of interest in the South Carolina program. Will Bailey is handling the recruitment there but Frank Martin’s hopped in and is talking with Smith a little as well and Smith’s been very receptive of the head coach’s message.
He played this summer with 2021 commitment Jacobi Wright and is close with him, and Wright’s doing his own recruiting there. NC State seems to be the biggest competition currently, but Texas A&M and a few others are showing interest as well. The Gamecocks really like his game and have a very strong chance to make the cut when Smith cuts his list down.
--Another in-state recruit to watch is Perry Smith Jr., who is considered the No. 145 player in the country and had another strong summer. He plays at Legacy Charter with Wright and where Jalyn McCreary played and is pretty close with McCreary and Trae Hannibal as well.
The Gamecocks offered this summer along with Iona, Alabama and Marquette with Texas A&M showing interest as well.
--One of the highest-rated players who has at least expressed Gamecock interest is Chris Livingston, the No. 3 player in the country. He’s gone on record earlier this year in September saying South Carolina are one of the three schools he hears from the most along with Tennessee State and Memphis and Ohio State.
It remains to be seen how much traction the Gamecocks will have as the process goes along, but South Carolina’s standing out at least early.
--Christian Reeves, a 7-foot big man out of Charlotte, also has some interest in South Carolina and the Gamecocks are staying in contact with him over this odd dead period. He wants to get up to South Carolina for a game when the visit moratorium is lifted. The Gamecocks, he said, have expressed an interest to him in getting up and watching him practice.
Wake Forest are another school showing interest there as well.
--The Gamecocks also have offered top 50 big man Donovan Clingan and have worked hard in recruiting him along with Connecticut, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Ohio State and a few other Power 5 schools.
