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USC recruit transfers for senior season
Commitment Smith to finish high school career at Christ School
CommentsEric Smith, the first in-state commitment to Darrin Horn at South Carolina, is going to play his senior season of high school ball out of state.
The point guard has transferred from Mullins High School to Christ School in Arden, N.C. The 5-foot-9 Smith committed to USC last year as a junior.
His father Stephen, who is an art teacher at Mullins High, said the decision was about "getting ready for the SEC next year and beyond."
"We lost a lot of players here at Mullins," Stephen Smith said. "And these types of private prep schools play these pretty hefty schedules. They're not restricted as we are in public schools, regarding the rules, when you can practice, when you can work out. He's looking for the bigger challenge to get him ready for the SEC."
Smith becomes the third player with Gamecock connections to play at Christ School. Current freshman Lakeem Jackson played there, as did Malik Cooke, who has transferred from Nevada and enrolled at USC.
"I spoke to coach Horn and told him, kidding, ‘man are you gonna owe me.’ To have three of my guys end up at South Carolina," said David Gaines, the coach at Christ School. "It's a mere coincidence. I know how it looks. But I'd never spoken to Stephen or Eric Smith until two weeks ago."
Smith was the first commitment for the 2010 class. Forward R.J. Slawson from Fort Dorchester became the second one in July.
The Gamecocks are also reportedly in the running for another 5-9 guard, senior Bruce Ellington of Myrtle Beach. But Gaines and Smith's father both said they understood that Smith is still strongly committed to USC.
"His firm commitment is firm, don't get me wrong. But it's going to help him no matter where he goes," Stephen Smith said. "He plans on signing in November. And this'll help him when he gets there in 2010."
Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.
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