South Carolina’s Brian Bowen reaches out to Zion Williamson ahead of decision day

After weeks of silence, Zion Williamson has made the media rounds ahead of his highly anticipated college announcement.

Williamson appeared on a recent SportsCenter with Jemele Hill and Michael Smith. The two anchors walked a basketball court with Spartanburg’s prized recruit, asking him a series of questions – including one directly related to South Carolina’s chances.

“What about your man, Brian Bowen?” Smith asked the five-star forward. “Any contact? A lot of people are having dreams of the two y’all linking up at South Carolina.”

Williamson grinned.

“He texted me today,” Williamson said. “It was my first time actually texting him.”

“And?” Smith replied.

“And we’ll see Jan. 20,” Williamson said, playfully refusing to give away more secrets.

Williamson will be choosing between USC, Clemson, Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky at 8 p.m. Saturday at Spartanburg Day School.

The 6-foot-6, 275-pound YouTube sensation is a consensus top 3 prospect in the 2018 class. Bowen, a former Louisville signee who transferred to South Carolina last week, was one of the most highly regarded players in the 2017 class. The 6-7, 195-pound Bowen, if reinstated by the NCAA, won’t be game-eligible for the Gamecocks until next season.

Should Williamson select Carolina, USC could have its highest rated recruits in program history on the floor together in 2018-19.

Williamson told reporters over the weekend in Massachusetts that the Gamecocks, along with the Tar Heels and Wildcats, were recently in to visit him.

This story was originally published January 16, 2018 at 11:17 AM with the headline "South Carolina’s Brian Bowen reaches out to Zion Williamson ahead of decision day."