Brandon McIlwain earns MVP honors, Elite 11 finals invite

Brandon McIlwain can add “Elite” to his résumé.

The South Carolina quarterback commitment earned MVP honors this weekend in the Elite 11 Semifinals, a competition held in Los Angeles that featured 30 of the nation’s best Class of 2016 quarterbacks. He also received an invite to the Elite 11 Finals, which are held as part of The Opening from July 5-10 in at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.

“It was a very great experience. It was amazing,” he said Sunday during the Elite 11’s online broadcast. “I’ve built some great friendships with a lot of people. It was a great weekend that held a lot of competing.”

The Elite 11 event was founded in 1999. The finals include 18 quarterbacks taking part in five days of advanced instruction and competition. McIlwain, from Newtown, Pa., joins Stephen Garcia (2006) and Blake Mitchell (2002) as USC commitments to be part of the Elite 11 finals.

McIlwain is considered a four-star prospect and the nation’s No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the 2016 class, according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings. Last season he passed for 2,100 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 1,100 yards and 20 touchdowns

McIlwain plans to enroll in school in January. He is one of four commitments the Gamecocks have for this class.

His high school, Council Rock North, holds spring practice this week.

“Next is going home, celebrating, getting back in the swing of football,” he said. “And going over to South Carolina and doing everything I can to help recruit for my school and help make South Carolina the best we can be.”

This story was originally published June 7, 2015 at 7:09 PM with the headline "Brandon McIlwain earns MVP honors, Elite 11 finals invite."