Talented in-state basketball prospects have attention of Gamecocks staff
South Carolina men’s basketball coach Lamont Paris isn’t wasting any time extending offers to some of the state’s top prospects for the Class of 2028.
Ridge View’s CJ Moore and RJ Davis, Keenan’s Antoine Caughman and Christ Church’s Kaleb Allen all picked up offers from the Gamecocks on Monday night, the first day that Division I coaches were allowed to reach out in person to Class of 2028 prospects (rising juniors).
Their offers come a few days after the Gamecocks offered Byrnes Class of 2027 guard Colt Fowler.
The four players are some of the state’s top junior players and all are ranked nationally. All four players are ranked in the top-100 prospects for Class of 2028 by 247Sports and On3.
The South Carolina coaching staff watched all four players in action over the weekend at the S.C. High School Basketball Live event in North Augusta.
The 6-foot-6 Moore and Davis were a 1-2 punch last season as sophomores in helping Ridge View to its third-straight state championship.
Moore was an all-state selection and averaged 11.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last season, while Davis, also an all-state pick, averaged 15.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.1 assists.
Moore and Davis also picked up offers from Coastal Carolina on Monday.
“In-state schools are very important and for them to show the love it really means a lot,” Moore told The State.
Caughman is one of the more versatile players in the state and can play point guard or shooting guard. The All-State selection averaged 15 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.3 steals and 1 block a year ago.
“It meant a lot to get an offer from where I’m from. It’s just like home,” Caughman said.
Caughman also has offers from Cal, Indiana, UCLA and Ole Miss.
Allen, a 6-foot-5 guard, played last season at TL Hanna in Anderson before transferring to Christ Church. He averaged 14.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 rebounds.
