Jamyest Williams commits: Gamecocks land one of nation’s best

South Carolina landed a commitment from one of the top cornerbacks in the country on Saturday as Grayson High’s Jamyest Williams committed to the Gamecocks during a ceremony at his high school.

Williams is rated as a four-star prospect, the No. 8 cornerback in the country and the No. 55 overall player, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He chose South Carolina over offers from Georgia, Florida State, Clemson, Alabama and others.

A strong relationship with USC coach Will Muschamp and defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson was key, Williams said shortly after putting on a Gamecocks visor.

“I just really believe in relationships,” Williams said during his announcement on ESPN ahead of Grayson’s televised game vs. IMG Academy. “It was really hard choosing between Georgia and South Carolina, but I just feel like I had a better relationship with coach Muschamp and coach T-rob.

Williams, asked what he has to say to the Georgia fans, replied, “Spurs Up, baby.”

As it stands, Williams would be the highest rated player to sign with USC since Shaq Roland and Mike Davis did so in 2012.

He would be the highest rated defensive back to sign with the Gamecocks since Stephon Gilmore in 2009.

“I think Jamyest Williams is one of the top corners in the whole country… Jamyest is a guy that will play right away at South Carolina,” 247Sports national recruiting insider Ryan Bartow said.

Bartow added that the Gamecocks beating out some of the top programs in the country for an out-of-state prospect is impressive.

“South Carolina legitimately toe-to-toe beat Georgia for him, as well as Clemson,” Bartow said. “He had committable offers to those two schools and many, many others. I think that’s as good a get as South Carolina has gotten in this class given who they beat for him and given that it’s a new staff they’re coming off a 3-9 season.”

Williams is listed at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, but Bartow said he doesn’t let his size hurt his play.

“He makes up for his lack of ideal size through competitiveness and through elite transitional quickness, and he has good ball skills too,” Bartow said. “He’s one of the top 10 cornerback prospects in the country.”

His father, J.J. Williams, said Jamyest was intent on crafting his own legacy.

“He just wanted to be that guy to stick out and put South Carolina back on the map,” J.J. Williams said.

This story was originally published August 27, 2016 at 2:59 PM with the headline "Jamyest Williams commits: Gamecocks land one of nation’s best."