Life after Zion: What’s next for USC basketball in 2018 recruiting class?
Zion Williamson didn’t pick South Carolina, but life will go on for Frank Martin’s basketball program.
The Gamecocks, after missing on what would be their centerpiece, remain in the hunt for players to fill their 2018 recruiting class.
Jermaine Couisnard
The first name to remember is Jermaine Couisnard, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound shooting guard from outside Chicago who is taking a prep year at Montverde Academy in Florida.
Couisnard took an official visit to USC earlier this month and landed an offer shortly thereafter.
“Jermaine admired Coach Martin’s authenticity,” said Johnnie Glover, Couisnard’s uncle who joined his nephew in Columbia. “He’s very real. He’s a straight shooter. He explained his need at South Carolina and he showed Jermaine where he could be a great fit for the program there.
“It was a good visit.”
Couisnard averaged 29.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists during his senior season at East Chicago Central High School. He went the prep school route, Glover said, as a way to “become stronger as an athlete and a student. And he also wanted to boost his recruitment.”
Rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports, Couisnard also has offers from Louisville, Virginia Tech, Illinois, UMass and Bradley. He’s taken an unofficial visit to Kansas, but Carolina remains the site of his only official visit.
USC assistant Chuck Martin is Couisnard’s lead recruiter.
“Chuck Martin has stated Jermaine is a five-star recruit,” Glover said.
Communication between the Gamecocks and the Couisnard camp happens daily, Glover said.
“Just basically every day we’re talking and stuff,” Glover said. “At this point, he’s just weighing options, seeing what the best situation is for him.”
Should Couisnard commit to USC, he’d be joining a 2018-19 Gamecocks team that, should the NCAA hurdles be cleared, will feature a McDonald’s All-American in Brian Bowen.
The Louisville transfer Bowen technically isn’t an ’18 recruit, but his presence can help impact the class.
Anfernee Simons
According to sources, South Carolina is trying to pin down an official visit date for Anfernee Simons. Simons, a 6-3, 165-pound guard, is the No. 10 player in 247Sports’ composite rankings. The five-star prospect from Florida de-committed from Louisville in September following the FBI probe that brought down Cardinals coach Rick Pitino.
Simons, who turns 19 in June and will be eligible for the NBA Draft, told Sports Illustrated last week he’ll likely to test the professional waters without hiring an agent. College suitors include USC, Tennessee, N.C. State, Florida and SMU.
Simons’ decision won’t come for a while.
E.J. Montgomery and more
E.J. Montgomery, the No. 15 player in the ’18 class, is another high-profile player the Gamecocks have offered and are working toward a visit date. The 6-10, 200-pound Montgomery (Marietta, Georgia) has offers from Duke, Auburn and Florida State, among others.
Montgomery was named a McDonald’s All-American this week.
Other names to monitor for South Carolina in the 2018 class: Canadian center Kaosi Ezeagu and Brandon Stone, a 2019 forward playing for The Christ School in Arden, North Carolina, who could reclassify.
This story was originally published January 21, 2018 at 6:41 PM with the headline "Life after Zion: What’s next for USC basketball in 2018 recruiting class?."