Team Notes
Out of the players that are set to enroll for Summer II, there is one on offense and two on defense that I believe are the best bets to play and have an impact this season. On offense, Alshon Jeffery is clear to play ball this season and should be able to instantly get into the rotation. On defense, my pick is Leon Mackey. Mackey's status might not be known for a bit longer, but the Gamecocks are hopeful of getting him in soon. Mackey is already big enough physically and don't forget, this is a guy that is over 20 years old. He's got a lot of potential in the SEC and I believe, beyond. My other pick is Damario Jeffery who is already physically impressive and will have a chance to add depth at SPUR and on special teams. He is the other defensive “gem” of South Carolina’s recruiting class along with Gilmore and Mackey, who people have not talked about as much.
Football Recruiting: Class of 2010
Touched base with Roswell (GA) Centennial OL David Yankey tonight. He has taken not other visits since his swing through South Carolina, UNC, and Duke. When asked about South Carolina, Yankey mentioned how much he likes G.A. Mangus and Eric Wolford and how down-to-earth they are. He believes that South Carolina is a program on the rise and he has paid close attention to the recruiting classes that Spurrier has brought in. There is no top group and as I've mentioned before, he's in no hurry. He will try to narrow it down after the season but he said that South Carolina would definitely make his list.
I talked briefly with USC commit Louis Nix talks to him "all the time" about switching to Miami according to Tapley. He did recently talk with Steve Spurrier, Jr. and says he is planning on visiting USC as well as some other schools this summer. He gave me a "50% chance" as to whether or not he would stick with his commitment. I believe once he visits USC the Gamecocks would have a chance of firming him up, but Miami remains a contender for him as well as Ole Miss. I don't expect this to be a thing that will drag out until Signing Day, as I've said before.
There was a story on the front page earlier about Roswell (GA) Blessed Trinity S Jake Skole. As you read, Skole had some very good things to say about South Carolina (he always does) and I continue to believe that South Carolina has a great chance of ultimately signing him. Chad Holbrook has done an outstanding job recruiting in baseball and Skole might becomes another outstanding signee for him. Trust me though, the Gamecock coaches are high on Skole's athletic ability on the football field as well. I believe Georgia and Georgia Tech would be the biggest competition here, but the Gamecocks appear to be in pretty good shape.
Decatur (GA) Southwest Dekalb S Sharrod Golightly is another guy that has an update on the front page. Right now Vanderbilt leads for him, in part because he recently completed a visit there. He is planning on visiting USC in July and I believe that if the Gamecocks push for him he is someone that they can land. Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, and South Carolina are his three right now and he really likes the idea of playing in the SEC.
Basketball Recruiting
There is a point guard in the Class of 2012 from Irmo High named Jordan Roper who I've heard excellent things about. I touched base with his father, Eric, earlier and the process is still very early for him. However, the Gamecock coaching staff is well aware of Roper and will track him and recruit him. Roper is scheduled to play at a tournament down in Charleston this weekend. I talked to a source that told me he and Shaq Roland would do battle for the top guard in the state honors. That same source mentioned that Roland was "a heck of an athlete".
Wilson (NC) Greenfield G Brian Richardson is a guy that Carolina has offered and I have mentioned before. I will have a full article up with him tomorrow, but he likes South Carolina a great deal and has not even seen the entire campus or the academic side of things. He was down for a game last season and was impressed.
Richardson would only say Carolina was near the top of his list and that he did not have a top five. I talked to a source on him who told me that it looked like his top schools might be South Carolina and Virginia at this point.
Out of the players that are set to enroll for Summer II, there is one on offense and two on defense that I believe are the best bets to play and have an impact this season. On offense, Alshon Jeffery is clear to play ball this season and should be able to instantly get into the rotation. On defense, my pick is Leon Mackey. Mackey's status might not be known for a bit longer, but the Gamecocks are hopeful of getting him in soon. Mackey is already big enough physically and don't forget, this is a guy that is over 20 years old. He's got a lot of potential in the SEC and I believe, beyond. My other pick is Damario Jeffery who is already physically impressive and will have a chance to add depth at SPUR and on special teams. He is the other defensive “gem” of South Carolina’s recruiting class along with Gilmore and Mackey, who people have not talked about as much.
Football Recruiting: Class of 2010
Touched base with Roswell (GA) Centennial OL David Yankey tonight. He has taken not other visits since his swing through South Carolina, UNC, and Duke. When asked about South Carolina, Yankey mentioned how much he likes G.A. Mangus and Eric Wolford and how down-to-earth they are. He believes that South Carolina is a program on the rise and he has paid close attention to the recruiting classes that Spurrier has brought in. There is no top group and as I've mentioned before, he's in no hurry. He will try to narrow it down after the season but he said that South Carolina would definitely make his list.
I talked briefly with USC commit Louis Nix talks to him "all the time" about switching to Miami according to Tapley. He did recently talk with Steve Spurrier, Jr. and says he is planning on visiting USC as well as some other schools this summer. He gave me a "50% chance" as to whether or not he would stick with his commitment. I believe once he visits USC the Gamecocks would have a chance of firming him up, but Miami remains a contender for him as well as Ole Miss. I don't expect this to be a thing that will drag out until Signing Day, as I've said before.
There was a story on the front page earlier about Roswell (GA) Blessed Trinity S Jake Skole. As you read, Skole had some very good things to say about South Carolina (he always does) and I continue to believe that South Carolina has a great chance of ultimately signing him. Chad Holbrook has done an outstanding job recruiting in baseball and Skole might becomes another outstanding signee for him. Trust me though, the Gamecock coaches are high on Skole's athletic ability on the football field as well. I believe Georgia and Georgia Tech would be the biggest competition here, but the Gamecocks appear to be in pretty good shape.
Decatur (GA) Southwest Dekalb S Sharrod Golightly is another guy that has an update on the front page. Right now Vanderbilt leads for him, in part because he recently completed a visit there. He is planning on visiting USC in July and I believe that if the Gamecocks push for him he is someone that they can land. Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, and South Carolina are his three right now and he really likes the idea of playing in the SEC.
Basketball Recruiting
There is a point guard in the Class of 2012 from Irmo High named Jordan Roper who I've heard excellent things about. I touched base with his father, Eric, earlier and the process is still very early for him. However, the Gamecock coaching staff is well aware of Roper and will track him and recruit him. Roper is scheduled to play at a tournament down in Charleston this weekend. I talked to a source that told me he and Shaq Roland would do battle for the top guard in the state honors. That same source mentioned that Roland was "a heck of an athlete".
Wilson (NC) Greenfield G Brian Richardson is a guy that Carolina has offered and I have mentioned before. I will have a full article up with him tomorrow, but he likes South Carolina a great deal and has not even seen the entire campus or the academic side of things. He was down for a game last season and was impressed.
Richardson would only say Carolina was near the top of his list and that he did not have a top five. I talked to a source on him who told me that it looked like his top schools might be South Carolina and Virginia at this point.
