USC BASKETBALL COACH Darren Horn scored perhaps his biggest recruiting victory for the Gamecocks with a commitment from 5-foot-9 point guard Bruce Ellington of Berkeley.
After a very good summer, Ellington’s stock skyrocketed with recruiters and analysts. The standout for the Stags’ football team decided to focus strictly on basketball at the next level.
Ellington committed to Horn on Wednesday but did not announce the pledge until after his football game Friday night, where he scored five touchdowns.
“South Carolina is on the verge of doing some special things,” Ellington said in a release. “I’m excited to be a Gamecock.”
Ellington had basketball offers from Clemson, Southern Cal, Auburn, Miami and others. USC and Clemson offered him in football.
Basketball recruiters could begin making in-home visits with prospects as of Wednesday. Horne and Clemson’s Oliver Purnell were two of the coaches to see Stacey Poole of Jacksonville, Fla. Kentucky coach John Calipari is scheduled to visit Poole today.
“I want to look at where the coaches see me in their program and the things they have to offer me,” Poole said.
He has visited USC and Clemson unofficially and might visit them again. He is scheduled for an official visit to Kentucky this weekend, and he’ll likely take an unofficial visit to Indiana.
Casey Prather of Jackson, Tenn., took an official visit to Michigan over the weekend. He has also visited Clemson officially and will visit Florida and Vanderbilt.
Damontre Harris of Fayetteville, N.C., made an official visit to Wake Forest over the weekend. He will make his official visit to USC this weekend. He also plans to visit Maryland and Florida.
Brian Richardson of Wilson, N.C., is scheduled for his official visit to USC this weekend. He also plans to visit Alabama, Auburn and UNC Wilmington.
Clemson and USC are among the offers for Jeremy Lamb of Norcross, Ga., according to his coach. He also has offers from Georgia Tech, Florida, Kentucky, Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Connecticut, Texas, Marquette, Georgetown, Xavier and others.
Football. Clemson continues to lead for Beaufort linebacker Justin Parker (6-2, 225) slightly over USC.
Parker was at Clemson’s game with Middle Tennessee and plans to be at USC’s home opener this Saturday. He also holds offers from Georgia Tech, Nebraska, Maryland, Wake Forest, Central Florida, N.C. State, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Colorado, South Florida, Mississippi State and East Carolina. Parker is also close to offers from Duke, Boston College, Oregon and Cal. Clemson and USC will be two of his official visits.
Athlete Sherard Cadogan (6-3 230) of Cherry Hill, N.J., has firmed up his USC official visit for Oct. 10 after considering arriving this weekend. He will also visit Wisconsin, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Michigan State.
Wide receiver Dyjuan Lewis (6-3 188) of Indianapolis remains undecided on his official visits from his offers of USC, Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Colorado, Minnesota, Louisville, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Oregon and Arkansas. Lewis said he will take all five of his visits after this season.
Wide receiver Kadron Boone (6-1, 195) of Ocala, Fla., is a Texas Tech commitment and has visited there officially. He says he might take some other visits and USC is one of the schools keeping in touch. Boone said he continues to hear from Gamecock receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr.
Spartanburg linebacker Andre Whitmire (6-2, 220) has not set up any visits but wants to check out USC, Georgia, North Carolina and Stanford. Whitmire has offers from Duke, Stanford, Wake Forest, Western Carolina, Air Force and Marshall.
Junior linebacker Corey Miller Jr. (6-4, 210) of Spring Valley has been hearing from USC, Clemson, N.C. State, Georgia, Florida State, Virginia and Vanderbilt. He has not been offered.
Defensive end Kareem Martin (6-6, 240) of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., has set official visits with Georgia Tech for this weekend, Clemson for Oct. 16 and Duke for Oct. 23. He will visit North Carolina and Virginia Tech after his season.
Defensive lineman Darius Kilgo (6-4, 290) of Charlotte was on hand for Clemson’s game with Middle Tennessee and is waiting on an offer from the Tigers.
“I most likely would commit if offered,” Kilgo said, “and I think my chances (for an offer) are pretty high.”
Kilgo has offers from Maryland and Michigan State. He’s also hearing from Auburn.
USC commitment offensive lineman Trammell Williams (6-2, 260) of Jacksonville has added offers from UCLA, California, Ole Miss and Kentucky. Williams said his USC commitment remains strong. He plans to visit for the Ole Miss game and take his official visit for the Florida or Clemson game.
USC remains interested in athlete Todd Neal (6-2, 195) of Mobile, Ala., as a defensive back. He talked recently with defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward.
“He said they are keeping the offer on the table,” said Neal, who also has offers from Southern Miss and Troy. He is also hearing from Florida State, Ole Miss, Marshall and Louisville.
Defensive lineman Michael Thornton (6-2, 280) of Stone Mountain, Ga., says the only official visit of which he is sure is Penn State. Other offers include Clemson, USC, Miami, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, Arkansas and West Virginia.
Clemson is the favorite of tight end Ethan Farmer (6-4, 275) of Tabor City, N.C., ahead of North Carolina. He is also considering N.C. State, Tennessee, Alabama, Penn State and Virginia Tech. Farmer plans to be at the East Carolina at North Carolina game this weekend, and he will be at Clemson for the Coastal Carolina game. Three of his official visits will be Clemson, North Carolina and Penn State.
Offensive lineman Max Garcia (6-5, 275) of Norcross, Ga., visited Clemson for the Middle Tennessee game. He is giving the Tigers a strong look, though he continues to favor Vanderbilt.
“They lead is not that big any more,” Garcia said. He will visit Maryland officially Oct. 2 and Vanderbilt Oct. 16. He will also set a date with Clemson.
Defensive back Dontrell Johnson (5-10 174) of Garden City (Kan.) JC, has set his official visit with USC for Oct. 23. He is optimistic about picking up an offer. USC is the only school Johnson is talking with.
Defensive lineman Sharif Floyd (6-3, 311) of Philadelphia has set his official visit with USC for the homecoming weekend of Oct. 23. Floyd is also looking at Penn State, Ohio State and Florida for officials.
Offensive lineman Duvon Milsap (6-6, 300) of Buford, Ga., remains undecided about his official visits. He has had calls from USC, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Louisville, and his top three are USC, Ole Miss and Oklahoma State. Milsap also has offers from Clemson, Mississippi State and East Carolina.
USC commitment wide receiver Sean Tapley (6-0, 175) of Jacksonville will take all five of his official visits, though he says his commitment to the Gamecocks is strong.
He plans to visit USC, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Southern Miss and Miami.
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