South Carolina basketball lands commitment from high-flying power wing Carlous Williams
South Carolina’s men’s basketball program is usually in the market for a burly, powerful player who can hammer it down at the rim.
The Gamecocks landed such a prospect when Carlous Williams made his pledge in the early hours of Wednesday morning, becoming the third member of Frank Martin’s 2021 class.
One of the best players in Mississippi, Williams’ highlights are loaded with thunderous dunks. He checks in at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds.
“It really just felt like the best fit with everything that they were saying and everything that they were offering,” Williams said. “Basically he (Martin) was just saying he will let me play my game. I do everything. They say he’s a hard coach, and I like that.”
Last season he averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds, leading Harrison Central (Gulfport, Mississippi) to the state final four. His squad ultimately fell to Starkville in the semifinals in a game Williams hardly played in because of a knee injury.
On the high school level, he also showed off a solid handle. His offers include Houston, Baylor, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, LSU, Oklahoma State, UAB and Southern Miss.
“It really feels good,” Williams said. “I’m kind of glad that it’s over so that way I won’t have to keep stressing about it. It was really hard. I had never had a decision like this. I was stressed about the decision until they started talking to me and offered and everything.”
South Carolina’s other two commits are guards Devin Carter and Jacobi Wright. Williams said he doesn’t plan to sign until the spring.
The Gamecocks project to go into Williams’ first season on campus with a pair of senior forwards in Justin Minaya and Keyshawn Bryant. Williams is more burly that Bryant, but does resemble him in his ability to attack the rim with abandon.
The Gamecocks are only set to lose one scholarship senior in Seventh Woods, but A.J. Lawson is expected to take another look at the pros and attrition is common on college basketball rosters.
This story was originally published August 26, 2020 at 1:16 AM.
