USC D-line recruit impacted by Charleston tragedies

Recruiting has not been on the mind of Whale Branch defensive lineman Nyles Pinckney the last few weeks, and for good reason.

His cousin, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, was one of the nine people killed in the Charleston church shootings last month.

“I haven’t been thinking about recruiting,” Nyles Pinckney said. “I’m just being there for my family. It’s just hard to believe.”

Pinckney will soon be back into the swing of things from a recruiting standpoint. He is basically only considering South Caroline and Clemson at this point, with no favorite between them. He last talked with Clemson recruiter Tony Elliott two weeks ago and he will attend the All-In Cookout July 17.

“He’s been telling me how much they like me and how they really would like me at Clemson,” Pinckney said.

He’s also been in touch with USC recruiter Deke Adams.

“He said they want me to visit more. They want me to come in in July but we don't have an exact date,” he said.

Pinckney said he doesn’t have a timetable on a decision and has a simple idea for choosing a winner between the Tigers and Gamecocks.

“Wherever I feel is the best for me,” he said.

NOTES

▪  OL Chandler Tuitt of Sandy Creek, Ga., has a top five of USC, Ole Miss, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida. He’s been talking the most with Ole Miss, Georgia and Florida and will make a decision sometime this week.

▪  Basketball News: The USC women offered Class of 2019’s Danae McNeal Pough (5-8), who plays for the SC76ERS-Cubs AAU team.

This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 11:24 AM with the headline "USC D-line recruit impacted by Charleston tragedies."