In-state big gets some time in front of Frank Martin

D.J. Burns, a 6-foot-9 big from York Prep Academy, was in Columbia on Saturday, not for a visit to South Carolina but to play against Hammond Academy. But that doesn't mean the Gamecocks weren't on his mind to some degree.

"Coach Frank Martin and coach (Perry) Clark were there," Burns said. "My parents talked to coach after the game. USC has done a great job with recruiting and they are one of my top choices so far. They call and text every week. They come to my games even though they are playing right now themselves. That's big. It's relationship building at its finest. They let me know they can see me fitting into their program. I've even talked to their academic adviser."

Burns has an impressive offer list that reads USC, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Georgia, LSU and Virginia, and he said Ohio State reached out to him last week. He also hears from Clemson thru the mail.

He was at Tennessee Sunday for the game with North Carolina and Virginia has invited him in for a game after Christmas. He was at USC earlier in the season and plans to get back there before the end of the month.

Burns said he plans to name a leader "very soon."

This story was originally published December 19, 2017 at 10:14 PM with the headline "In-state big gets some time in front of Frank Martin."