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Basketball Recruiting Discussion

Posted on 1/25/14 at 10:10 pm
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 1/25/14 at 10:10 pm
(no message)
This post was edited on 2/17/17 at 8:04 pm
Posted by ConwayGamecock
South Carolina
Member since Jan 2012
9121 posts
Posted on 1/26/14 at 12:19 am to
Good additions to the team - Stroman adds a legit #1 to the roster, replacing a departing Brenton Williams and Bruce Ellington. Ellington was a true PG I guess but more was a slasher/driver to the basket than a straight-up distributor of the BBall, and wasn't the best perimeter shooter. Williams was a #2 in a #1 body that was mostly a setup perimeter shooter and who was good at fast-break drives to the basket, but improved on his lane penetration in order to capitalize on his excellent free-throw shooting. IMO, both Shaw and Notice will go a long way in replacing both Williams' and Ellington's roles on the team, but we need more legitimate ball handlers and distributors, and IMO Stroman fills that role, and he's a decent size for a PG too...

Blanton will be another athletic 2/3 who can drive, rebound, and defend.

IMO the roster needs more depth in the paint than anything else, but these two are solid additions to the team...
Posted by scrooster
Resident Ethicist
Member since Jul 2012
37733 posts
Posted on 1/26/14 at 11:34 am to
Thanks CC13, upvoted.
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 1/28/14 at 11:10 am to
TBS/247 Insider Notes from this week:

quote:

Recruiting

-- South Carolina has extended an offer to 6-foot-6 slashing wing player Shamiek Sheppard (Waynesboro, Va./Fishburne Prep). Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., Sheppard has also started receiving heavy interest from Frank Martin's former school, Kansas State, and is expected to set up visits to both schools in the next few weeks. Those are the two schools showing the most interest at this point and based on what we are told those are the two schools that Sheppard is likely to choose from.

This season at Fishburne, Sheppard is averaging 14 points per game and is described as a scoring slasher with a good mid-range game. Sheppard will need to continue to improve his three point shot but he is very similar to current Kansas State player Shane Southwell from what we are told.

-- One other name to mention from Fishburne Prep is 6-foot-8, 210-pound DeOntaye Curtis who has been described to me as very similar to Gamecocks recruit and Oklahoma signee Dante Buford (Jacksonville, Fla/Arlington Country Day). Curtis took an official visit to Gardner-Webb this past weekend but he still has some work to do regarding academics.

If Curtis can get his academics together late in the year he will likely be a guy that receives several high major offers but it is going to be mid- to late-March before anyone has an idea if he can make it academically.

-- Another post player in the 2014 class the Gamecocks recently checked on is 6-foot-10, 300-pound Adonis Delarosa (Rens, N.Y./Christ the King) but at this point we do not expect the Gamecocks to do very much here. They are likely to go see him play again towards the end of February but the focus is finding another athletic body and while DelaRosa is big, he does not really fit the mold of what the Gamecocks are looking for.

There is still a very strong chance that the Gamecocks will take a post player that has elected to transfer from another school and see if he can get a waiver to become eligible immediately.
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 2/3/14 at 8:04 pm to
VIP Room Notes

quote:

-- Last week we mentioned 2014 wing Shamiek Sheppard (Waynesboro, Va./Fishburne Academy) and how the Gamecocks had stepped forward with an offer. The Gamecocks got the necessary paperwork over the weekend and now Sheppard will take an official visit to Columbia starting this Wednesday and running through Friday.

Sheppard and his team play against Hargrave Academy on Tuesday night and the 6-foot-6 prospect will then make the trip down on Wednesday and should be on campus in time to catch the Gamecocks take on Auburn.

The Gamecocks have also extended an offer to 2014 wing/forward Josh Cunningham (Chicago, Ill./Morgan Park) along with DePaul, Bradley, Minnesota, Northwestern and Nebraska. In speaking with people over the weekend, the feeling is that DePaul is the team to beat but Cunningham has an open mind and if he visits the Gamecocks they could make a move.

The Gamecocks would be willing to take both Sheppard and Cunningham if they both wanted to commit as Cunningham is considered more of an athletic four than a true wing. Sheppard on the other hand is considered more of a three man and a slasher.

This post was edited on 2/3/14 at 8:05 pm
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 2/17/14 at 7:41 pm to
VIP Notes

Recruiting

-- Frank Martin traveled to Chicago on Sunday to watch 2014 forward Josh Cunningham (Chicago, IL/Morgan Park). The 6-foot-6 prospect has already taken four official visits as we have documented and the Gamecocks are fighting to get Cunningham's fifth visit but at this point, the odds are he ends up taking that visit to either DePaul or Indiana. From what I have been told Michigan State would be the favorite to get Cunningham's final visit, if they offer. The Spartans are going to likely wait until late to see what roster spots they have available before making a decision so this recruitment is likely to drag out until April.

-- In speaking with people around the midlands, we are starting to get the feel that South Carolina has made a significant move with 2015 wing Perry Dozier Jr. (Columbia/Spring Valley). We have not made a Crystal Ball prediction just yet but we are trending toward picking the Gamecocks.

Dozier is still rehabbing from knee surgery in the fall of 2013 but is close to being ready to get back on the court. Expect the 6-foot-5 wing from Spring Valley to be back on the court soon and then really narrow his list down to three to five schools. The job that Martin and his staff have done with Thornwell this season has caught the attention of both Dozier and his father and the feeling is that they could do the same thing for the rising senior when he arrives on campus.

-- There is no news to update on 2014 wing prospect Shamiek Sheppard (Waynesboro, Va./Fishburne Military Academy) as he is hoping to set up a visit to Kansas State in the very near future and then make a decision by the end of the month. Based on feedback we have received, we still very good about the Gamecocks chances as of today.

Perry Dozier Jr 247 Bio

Wow that would be a really nice get. He's gotten offers from Clemson, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina, & Georgetown. Along with a ton of other big time schools looking at him for example: Duke, Louisville, Virginia, & Wichita State.
This post was edited on 2/17/14 at 7:47 pm
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 3/2/14 at 4:54 pm to
Progress this season boosts USC for Dozier

Perry Dozier Jr 247 Bio

quote:

“It was a great game and the atmosphere was crazy,” Dozier told TheBigSpur afterward. “Probably the most amount of people I have seen here in a couple years. Kentucky brought a lot of their fans but I was glad South Carolina could get the win and bounce back from their season and the record they currently have.”

One of the selling points for the Gamecocks staff to Dozier has been the success of current freshman and South Carolina native Sindarius Thornwell.

“He was great,” Dozier said. “Personally since I have been watching all season, I thought this was the best game he has had. He knew he could put the ball in the basket and he really exploited that tonight."

“They are coming along great,” he said. “The very first game I saw was a little shaky, I wasn’t sure what they would be able to do with this but as the season has gone along they have gotten better and better and you can see it clearly out there on the court.”

Asked if the team’s progress this year could help in his decision to stay home, Dozier did not hesitate to say it could.

“Oh yeah, definitely,” he said. “That is the biggest thing. If you don’t see any progress then why you consider that school but the progress they are making right now going into the tournament is great.”

“I do not plan to really narrow my list until I actually take some unofficial visits,” he said. “I have not really been anywhere except for a couple schools around that are pretty close by but when I can get out and get to a couple schools like Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana or Kansas then I can have a better idea.”

As for when the rising senior may end up making a decision, he was not sure and was not really rushing into.

“I am just being patient and going with the flow as people would say,” Dozier said. “I do know the time is winding down for me to make a decision but I am just taking my time right now. I just do see much point in hurrying up and letting everybody know. I just want to be sure with the decision that I make.”

Dozier is the No. 8 point guard in the country and No. 34 player regardless of position in the 247Sports Composite with a four-star, 0.9861 rating. He is also a four-star prospect with a 96 rating by 247Sports.


ETA: 2016 Prospect Seventh Woods 247 Bio was also in the house, sitting right behind the South Carolina bench. Also came away impressed from the game.
This post was edited on 3/2/14 at 5:07 pm
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 3/3/14 at 3:12 pm to
Recruiting

-- The Gamecocks hosted several local prospects over the weekend for their win over Kentucky. The big names on hand were 2015 wing Perry Dozier Jr. (Columbia/Spring Valley) and 2016 guard Seventh Woods (Columbia/Hammond Academy). Other players on hand were 2015 wing Tevin Mack (Columbia/Dreher), 2015 point guard DeAndre Nathaniel (Columbia/Dreher) and 2017 point guard Devontae Shuler (Irmo/Irmo).

-- We caught up with Dozier following the win to get his reaction. A couple more notes to pass along is that Dozier believes that he is about 3-5 weeks away from being able to get back on the court and start playing again. This coming AAU season, Dozier will again play with his Upward Stars program based out of Spartanburg but is also likely to play a few tournaments with the Under Armour based Carolina Wolves and Seventh Woods.

This could be a very good move for the Gamecocks as the Wolves were current signee Marcus Stroman’s team and they have a pretty good relationship with the Gamecocks staff. Despite Dozier not mentioning North Carolina in terms of possible visits, do not read too much into that. His point during our interview was that he wanted to visit schools further away such as Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State and Kansas. If the Tar Heels firm up their offer, we still believe this likely comes down to them and the Gamecocks with Ohio State as a dark horse.

-- We have not been able to catch up with Woods following the game, which is not a surprise as he does not do phone interviews. In speaking with people that interacted with him at the game though, the feeling on him was very positive. It is still very early but the feeling is that Martin has made a significant impact on Woods and his family and have put the Gamecocks in an excellent position to be a major factor heading into the AAU season and beyond.

-- The Gamecocks are beginning to pick up interest in Mack who has been at several home games recently. We caught up with him on Sunday night for his feelings on the win and where things stand and will have a full interview soon. Mack recently was named the AAA Player of the Year in South Carolina after having a very solid junior season. Schools such as Florida State, Southern California and Virginia have all reached out to him lately making him a player to keep a very close eye on as we move into the spring and summer AAU period.

-- One other prospect at the game that we mentioned was the 2017 point guard Devontae Shuler from Irmo. Shuler has a chance to be a high major prospect as he develops over time and is a name to keep an eye on over the next few years.
This post was edited on 3/3/14 at 3:13 pm
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 3/10/14 at 6:49 pm to
quote:

@sportstalksc
Per his coach 6-6 Shamiek Sheppard has committed to USC.


Shamiek Sheppard 24/7 Bio
This post was edited on 3/10/14 at 6:51 pm
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 3/17/14 at 1:37 pm to
VIP Notes 3/17:

Recruiting

-- The staff will return to the road this coming week to look for prospects that could help the 2014 team. In speaking with people close to four-star power forward Josh Cunningham (Chicago, Ill./Morgan Park), we would still classify Indiana as the leader for him and his most likely destination. The Gamecocks have some help with Cunningham though from people close to him who would like to see him play for a coach like Frank Martin because they believe that Martin could help Cunningham grow as a person. Still the chance to play in the Big Ten, a conference Cunningham has grown up watching, and be closer to home could be the deciding factors in his decision.

Two names to just keep in the memory bank in terms of 2014 players as we move forward are 6-foot-4 shooting guard Troy Holston (Tampa, Fla./Oldsmar Christian) and 6-foot-3 point guard Shelton Mitchell (Mouth of Wilson, Va./Oak Hill Academy). Currently both players are committed to other programs and have signed their letters of intent, as Holston is signed with South Florida and Mitchell with Wake Forest. However, Stan Heath has already been let go from the Bulls and there is a lot of speculation that Jeff Bzdelik could be on the way out in Winston-Salem.

If Holston elects to open up recruitment back up and can get a release from South Florida, expect the Gamecocks to at least inquire into his interest. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard has a college ready body as he is close to 200 pounds and was one of the best shooters on the AAU circuit during the month of July. Holston's shooting ability earned him offers from Mississippi, Memphis and Kansas State among others. In speaking with his current head coach, the family is in no rush to make a decision and would like to at least see who the Bulls choose as their head coach before deciding on anything.

As for Mitchell, the Gamecocks could potentially elect to get involved with him again he does open his recruitment. We reached out to someone on Saturday night to see what type of interest Mitchell would have in the Gamecocks if he does open things up and they elect to pursue him. We were told that Mitchell would probably be interested in talking to the Gamecocks if that does indeed happen as he is a good friend of current player Sindarius Thornwell.
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 4/29/14 at 6:12 pm to
quote:

@VerbalCommits
2014 Morgan Park (IL) F Josh Cunningham has committed to Bradley. @JoshMCunningham LINK
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 5/5/14 at 3:52 pm to
Recruiting

quote:

-- Tevin Mack was impressed with head coach Frank Martin in a recent visit to campus, despite the fact that he wasn’t offered at the time. While Martin wants to continue to watch Mack play, he also wants to continue to build a relationship with the four-star player before putting an offer on the table.

We’re told that VCU is pushing really hard to get Mack to shut down his recruitment and commit to the Rams but that doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen. Wake Forest also recently offered and are trying to push hard for him at the moment after his big showing in Pittsburgh, Pa. two weeks ago. The feeling is that Mack wants to go to South Carolina and is not upset about the lack of an offer at this point.

-- South Carolina has gotten into the mix with former 247Sports Composite five-star guard Danuel House, who is transferring from Houston after a coaching change during the offseason. House was the Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2012-13 and has two more years of eligibility remaining to play. We are still working to get a full interview with House but we have been able to confirm his interest in the Gamecocks and that he will visit the school for the first time this week.

House isn’t in a real rush to make a decision and he plans to visit UCLA next week. He has mentioned taking other visits as well but the Carolina and UCLA are the two most important to him at this point.

-- South Carolina native and four-star point guard Juwan Evans (Dallas, Texas/Kimball) came back this weekend to the east coast and played with his SC Raptors team and helped to win the Bob Gibbons Tournament in Atlanta, Ga. Evans went to Southside High School in Greenville but left for Texas last summer. Both South Carolina and Clemson were involved with him at the time but we understand that Evans has taken a liking to his new home and has gotten comfortable out there.

Ranked as the No. 73 player in the country in the 247Sports Composite, the 6-foot guard will likely find his home in the Big 12 with Oklahoma State, Baylor and Oklahoma showing the most interest. Cincinnati and Kansas have also been by to check him out recently.
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 5/12/14 at 4:06 pm to
Recruiting

quote:

-- Obviously the biggest story in South Carolina basketball recruiting right now is that of Houston transfer Danuel House. He visited from Thursday to Saturday and we, unfortunately, have not been able to get him on the phone. We understand that others have and he’s made very positive comments as it relates to his visit. Getting House on the phone is No. 1 on our priority list as a site, regardless of sport and story. Please know we’re not ignoring the story.

From what we can gather from people around the program, the staff felt the visit went pretty well. It was House’s first visit and he currently has other trips set up for UCLA this week and UNLV later this month. The current plan is for the 6-foot-7 guard to take all of his visits. He played things close to the vest on his visit and is trying to keep an open mind until he takes his trips. House doesn’t seem to be in a rush to make a decision.

-- Head coach Frank Martin spent time in both Pittsburgh, Pa. and Biloxi, Miss. a couple weekends back checking out some of the top players in the 2015 and 2016 classes. Two of the major players he watched were targets Perry Dozier Jr. (Columbia/Spring Valley) and Seventh Woods (Columbia/Hammond). South Carolina and North Carolina comprise the top two schools for both players, so we reached out to someone with intimate knowledge of North Carolina’s recruiting, who has a little bit different perspective than what we’ve heard lately.

The word out of the North Carolina camp is the Tar Heels feel like they have a great shot to land Dozier, a 2015 wing, if and when they decide he’s the player they want. We’ve been told that Dozier has given the Tar Heels reasons to feel good but he’s not UNC’s top priority at this point. Wisdom from the USC side of things is that the Gamecocks feel good about their position with Dozier.

With Woods, many figure that UNC is the lead school while USC trails. Williams and the Tar Heels certainly want Woods and there’s no slow-playing going on from their side with the 2016 guard. Word from the North Carolina side is that they feel good about they’re position, but they don’t feel like they’re the leaders for Woods at this point. If UNC doesn’t lead, it’s USC on top. Regardless of who leads right now, there’s a long way to go in Woods’ recruitment.
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 5/29/14 at 1:01 pm to
OP updated for our newest commitment James Thompson.
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 6/11/14 at 11:08 am to
24/7 Bolt

quote:

South Carolina basketball signee James Thompson was arrested earlier this week and booked in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of aggravated battery and domestic abuse by battery, according to The Times Picayune.

Thompson's arrest came after the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office was contacted regarding a pair of alleged incidents that allegedly resulted from arguments about the complainant's Instagram account, according to the arrest report.

Thompson, a 6-foot-8, 205-pounder who starred at Capitol Pre-college Academy For Boys in Baton Rouge, La., has a rating of 0.8734 in the industry generated 247Sports Composite and was ranked the No. 46 PF in the country.
This post was edited on 6/11/14 at 11:10 am
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 6/23/14 at 7:17 pm to
Class of 2015 forward Jarred Reuter (Brewster, Mass./Brewster) has picked up a South Carolina offer and is drawing interest from several schools in the Big 10 and Big East. His high school coach, Jason Smith, has confirmed that Reuter is interested in the Gamecocks. The 6-foot-8 forward will narrow his list of schools sometime in July.
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 9/22/14 at 8:49 pm to
quote:

-- South Carolina target Jacob Evans (Baton Rouge, La./St Michael the Archangel) took a visit to Cincinnati this weekend and had a great time. After visiting South Carolina last weekend, Evans welcomed Auburn for an in-home visit last Tuesday and then went to see the Bearcats this weekend. Cincinnati has one spot left open for a guard and they have made it clear they want Evans. The Gamecocks like Evans a lot, but are unsure if they will have room for him with signing a big man being a priority and still being in on Dozier. Evans does not plan to make his decision until the spring.


Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 10:32 pm to
Nix cuts it to 3

quote:

Junior college big man Rozelle Nix has narrowed his college choices down to three schools and has moved his decision timeframe up. Nix, who visited South Carolina officially the last weekend in September, will visit Pittsburgh the last weekend in October and then choose between the Gamecocks, Panthers and Loyola Marymount.
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 10/24/14 at 1:14 pm to
Rozelle Nix starts his official visit today & will be up there all weekend.
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 11/14/14 at 12:33 am to
Updated OP with quotes from CFM on both signees so far in Chris Silva & Perry Dozier Jr.
This post was edited on 11/14/14 at 12:39 am
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