Clemson, South Carolina make the recruiting cut for Davidson Day’s star big man
Will Stevens has narrowed down the list of schools he’s considering to sign with with Clemson and South Carolina basketball programs making the final cut.
The Gamecocks and Tigers area among Stevens’ final five schools he released this week. The others are Vanderbilt, Davidson and St. Mary’s (Calif). Stevens plans to take visits to all five schools this fall and make a decision before his senior season at Davidson Day (NC) begins.
The 6-foot-11 Stevens will take his visit to Clemson at the end of August when the Tigers’ football team faces LSU. He hasn’t decided a date for his South Carolina visit but it also will be when the Gamecocks have a home football game.
Stevens visited both schools last fall and went to basketball practices. Clemson offered him over a year ago with the Gamecocks offering him this summer.
Currently, the Gamecocks have one commit for the Class of 2026 in guard Isaac Ellis, the younger brother of freshman Eli Ellis. The Tigers have no commitments for 2026.
“Clemson, I like Coach Bender (assistant) and how they play through their big men. They always play through their bigs. They let their big men play pick and roll and make decisions,” Stevens told The State last month. “South Carolina, I like coach Paris. Last year was a little bit of a dip but I think they have a very successful program. He does a good job with big men and he is a good communicator. And I love the SEC atmosphere.”
Stevens said three factors will influence his final decision: relationship with the coaching staff, academics and how the school uses their big men.
USC coach Lamont Paris and Clemson coach Brad Brownell sat side-by-side watching Stevens and his Upward Stars SE play a game during the Adidas’ Palmetto Road Championships in Rock Hill last month. Stevens had a strong end to his summer after he switched from Nike EYBL circuit to Upward Stars on the Adidas circuit. At the Rock Hill event (his first with Upward Stars), he averaged 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, shot 77.8% from the field including 52.8% from 3-point range.
Stevens has the ability to play both inside and outside and loves to watch film of other big men such as Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić, who have versatility to their game.
“I can shoot, I can make great decisions and if I have a mismatch I will have the opportunity to go inside,” Stevens said.
Stevens comes from a basketball family with his mother Jennifer (Buck) Stevens playing at Texas Tech from 1988-92. His mother played in 122 games for the Red Raiders and averaged 11.5 points per game.
Stevens played some lacrosse growing up before concentrating on basketball full time. He plays for a successful program at Davidson Day, which made it to the semifinals of the NC Independent Schools Athletic Association playoffs before losing to Greensboro Day.
During his junior season, Stevens averaged 12 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks.
This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM.
