De’riante Jenkins draws recruitment from Clemson, USC during move

One of the standouts on the AAU summer circuit has been 6-foot-6 De’riante Jenkins, the former Lake Marion two sport star who is looking for a new school this fall.

He played at West Oaks Academy in Orlando last season and is looking at Hargrave Prep, Va., and Brewster Academy in New Hampshire for the coming season.

Jenkins has not added any new offers in recent weeks. He's still holding with Clemson, Houston, East Carolina, South Florida, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Indiana. His most recent visits were to Clemson University, USC and Georgia Tech. The Gamecock visit was the most recent and he got the chance to have an extended conversation with head coach Frank Martin and assistant coach Matt Figger.

"The word offer wasn't thrown around so I guess I've got to continue to play hard," Jenkins said. On the visit he got a closer look at the campus and watched some of the players, including friend and former AAU teammate P.J. Dozier, work out in the weight room.

Clemson jumped on Jenkins earlier than most and the Tigers are keeping up their efforts to land him.

"I talk to Clemson coaches a lot, practically ever day," he said. "They are just telling me how they need a guy like me and how coach (Steve) Smith develops the wings, like how he did K.J. (McDaniels). They say I can come in and help them like K.J. did. We've got a lot of similarities and all that. And they are also telling me how they can help me in other things other than basketball."

Jenkins said other schools, like Missouri, LSU, Texas and Tennessee, have started to show him a lot of interest. He said he's not sure if he will sign in November or wait until the spring and he doesn't have a favorite at this point.

For now, Jenkins is back at is home in Eutawville for the summer before heading off to one of the prep schools he's considering.

Other notes

▪  USC offered 6-6 Jalen Johnson of Durham, N.C. last week. Johnson has had a Clemson offer and also has offers from Alabama, South Florida, Wake Forest, Old Dominion, Texas Tech, VCU and others. He visited Clemson in mid-June.

▪  USC target 6-11 Nysier Brooks of Burlington, NJ committed to Cincinnati.

▪  2017 prospect 6-2 Tariq Simmons of Keenan plans to take an unofficial visit to USC Friday according to Corey Evans of Roundball Rundown Report.