USC men’s basketball program picks up 7-1 commitment

University of South Carolina men’s basketball head coach Frank Martin picked up a commitment from 7-foot-1-inch, 240-pound center Khadim Gueye, a native of Senegal who attends Victory Rock Prep in Bradenton, Fla., on Friday.

Gueye narrowed his decision to USC and Arizona State after taking official visits to each. He also visited South Florida and Long Beach State.

“We just really like Coach Martin and I trust (assistant) Coach (Perry) Clark,” said Victory Rock head coach Loren Jackson. “I’ve been knowing Coach Clark a lot of years. And I trust Frank.

“Frank does a great job with bigs (post players). KG is a developing big. He feels great. He’s excited.”

Gueye is a classic post player. He primarily is a defender and rebounder who still needs work on his offensive game, but he does run the floor well and is a good passer.

“He’s very comfortable with the ball,” Jackson said. Plus, at 240 pounds, Jackson said Gueye is hard to move out of the lane.

Gueye came to the United States for basketball and academics and his coach feels he has a bright future on the court.

“He has a chance to be a professional basketball player,” Jackson said.

Gueye becomes the sixth member of USC’s 2016 recruiting class. He will sign as soon as the paperwork arrives.

On Tuesday, USC landed a commitment from 6-2 point guard Kory Holden, a native of Salisbury, Md., who is transferring from Delaware.

He will have to sit out next season, becoming eligible for the ’17-18 season. That will leave him two years of eligibility with USC.

Holden decided on USC after also considering Virginia Tech, Seton Hall and Baylor. He also drew interest from Kansas.

Martin made Holden a personal priority, and he said Martin talked to him practically every day. Holden said he liked Martin and the way he handled his recruiting.

“Frank Martin was honest and was able to communicate his plan to me,” Holden said. “I heard all good things about him through the process and his vision for me aligns with my personal goals. I enjoyed the visit and the guys. I feel it’s the best fit for me.”

Holden, a left-hander, averaged 18 points per game last season and shot 80 percent from the free throw line and 39 percent from 3-point range. He averaged 12 points as a freshman.

USC target 6-8 Keanu Pinder of Hutchinson Junior College in Kansasmade an official visit to North Carolina State last week.

USC recently offered ‘17 7-1 center Jason Cudd of Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach. Cudd averaged 14.9 points and 8.0 rebounds last season.

USC offered ‘18 6-8 shooting guard Jairus Hamilton of Concord, N.C. Some of his other offers are North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Hampton.

USC was at Oak Hill Academy, Va., last week to check out ‘17 SG Devontae Shuler. USC, Clemson, Southern California, Florida, Oklahoma State and NCSU are among his offers.

Martin also scouted ‘17 6-8 recruit Ibrahim Doumbia of Miami last week.

Clemson offered ‘17 6-8 recruit Royce Hamm of Houston. He also has Texas, Texas Tech, Nebraska and Kansas State offers. Also, ‘17 6-9 recruit Nathan Reuvers of Lakeville, Minn., was offered He has 19 offers and some of the others are Washington State, St. Joseph’s, Creighton, DePaul, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Yale.

Phenom Hoop Report reported that 6-3 Lavar Batts of Concord, N.C., ‘19 6-7 recruit Joey Baker of Fayetteville, N.C., and ‘19 6-5 recruit Christian Brown of A.C. Flora High in Columbia were offered by Clemson. That’s the first offer for Brown, who is also drawing interest from USC and several others. He averaged 15 points last season.

Clemson checked out ‘17 point guard Zack Bryant of Jacksonville, Fla., last week. He has a Clemson offer. Clemson also stopped in on ‘18 6-11 recruit Nate Springs of Charlotte.

Zion Williamson, a 6-4 ’18 recruit from Spartanburg Day, was offered by Texas A&M.

FOOTBALL

USC

DB Yusuf Corker of Stockbridge, Ga., was at USC last week with his mother, and the visit pushed USC back ahead of Tennessee on his favorites list. Corker said he got about 30 minutes with USC head coach Will Muschamp before he had to leave for another engagement and the UDV head coach spelled out his need for him.

“They really need corners(backs) for this year,” Corker said. “It’s a great opportunity. They are on the come up. They are taking six DBs in this class and they want me because I can play safety, corner and nickel.” The Corkers left Columbia around noon andd Yusuf said he nearly made a commitment before departing.

“Tennessee was the favorite after I visited there and now USC is the favorite,” he said. “Coach T-Rob (defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson) explained why South Carolina is the best school for me.

“The best part was that Tennessee has many defensive backs and South Carolina will only have eight after the ones leave this year. Coming to South Carolina I have a better chance of starting than going to Tennessee. I came real close to committing.

“I have a cousin (wide receiver Wallace Corker) who is going to go to camp at South Carolina this summer and I want to wait and see what happens with him. I’m kind of looking at other schools, but South Carolina has a pretty good lead.”

Those other schools are Tennessee, Duke North Carolina and Vanderbilt, all schools he has visited. Corker said Robinson plans to scout him when his spring practice starts on Monday.

USC added another quarterback target to the board for ‘17 with an offer to Jay Urich (6-3, 170) of Wren High in Piedmont. USC is the first Power 5 conference school to offer.

He also has offers from Coastal Carolina, Furman, Eastern Kentucky, Harvard, Jackson State, Mercer, South Carolina State, North Dakota State and Gardner-Webb.

Urich also is drawing interest from Duke, Kentucky, East Carolina, NCSU, UNC, Penn State, Vandy, Texas and Virginia. He has made recent visits to USC, Duke, ECU and Vandy. Urich said he doesn’t have a leader at this point.

Last season, Urich rushed for ,1031 yards and 19 touchdowns and passed for 2,760 yards and 21 TDs.

One of the most important recruits in USC’s ‘16 class is DB Jamarcus King of Coffeyville JC in Kansas. The highly regarded CB had hoped to enroll at mid-term, but had to finish up some academic work this semester. King said last week the work is nearly complete and the results are good.

“Everything should be good and I should be there in May,” King said. “I will be done in early May with all my classes. They’re all good to go.”

Defensive end J’Bril Glaze (6-3, 250) of Tampa, Fla., currently has two Southeastern Conference programs as his leaders.

“South Carolina basically is at the top of the list, tied at the top with Kentucky,” Glaze said. “I talk with Coach Muschamp and the whole staff. They are pretty straight forward about how they would play me, similar to how they played (former USC DE Jadeveon) Clowney, outside off the edge, and how they played Jonathan Bullard.

“That fits perfectly with my playing style. And they produce a lot of great athletes and develop players. And I really want to play in the SEC.”

Glaze has visited USF, and this summer he wants to see USC, UK, Mississippi State and Indiana. He’d like to make his decision this summer, if he can. His offers include USC, UK, Arizona, Indiana, Louisville, Mississippi State, Central Florida, Maryland, Iowa State, VT, Tennessee and South Alabama. Last season, Glaze totaled 45 tackles with five QB sacks.

USC is going hard after DB Tre Shaw (6-0, 180) of Ellenwood, Ga., and has worked its way into good position with him at this point. Shaw is sought after as a CB and a nickel, but can also play safety.

“They are very interested in me and I’m very interested in them,” Shaw said. “I can come in and start, basically, and get a fair amount of playing time if I come there because they need help on the defensive side.

“I’ve always been a fan of Coach T-Rob and Coach Muschamp. I followed them at Auburn. I think they are some great coaches and they have a great chance to change the South Carolina football program.” Shaw attended the USC spring game. UNC has been his only other visit this spring. He had hoped to visit NCSU, but that hasn’t taken place. He has not visited Georgia or Georgia Tech recently.

Shaw said he has 26 offers and no short list, but some of the ones he’s most interested in at this point are USC, UNC, Auburn, UGA, NCSU, Michigan, UF and Tennessee. He feels like USC and UNC are recruiting him the hardest.

A USC DE target in Florida is Jake Lichtenstein (6-5, 245) of Weston, and he’s planning to check out USC this summer. He recently visited UK. USC and UK are two of his top 10 right now along with West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Mississippi State, Syracuse, Oregon State, Temple, Rutgers and ISU from his 18 offers.

USC offensive line target TJ Moore of Charlotte was offered by VT, while another target, tight end Drake DeIuliis of Charlotte, committed to VT.

USC was at Nassau JC in New York last week to watch OL Badara Traore (6-8, 310), a player USC offered soon after the new staff took over. Arizona State, Louisville, Baylor, UGA, UF, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Auburn, Texas Tech, Arkansas and ISU are some of his other offers.

USC DE target Joe Anderson of Copiah-Lincoln JC in Mississippi was offered by Southern Cal.

USC made an offer to WR MJ Jarrell (6-2, 183) of Orlando, Fla. He also has offers from Maryland, VT and Duke. USC is his first SEC offer.

USC offered WR Justin Marshall (6-3, 190) of Conyers, Ga. He also has offers from Louisville, Cincinnati, Maryland, Tennessee and WVU.

QB Spencer Sanders (6-2, 190), an ’18 recruit from Denton, Texas, was offered by USC. He also has offers from Kansas, KSU, A&M and North Texas.

USC also offered ‘18 defensive lineman Kelijiha Brown of Saluda High; ‘18 OL Kavesz Sherard (6-4, 310) of T.L. Hanna High in Anderson; ‘18 OL/DL Matthew Jones of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and ‘18 WR Jordyn Adams (6-2, 175) of Blythewood High, son of former USC DL coach Deke Adams. It’s his first football offer. Adams previously was offered by USC baseball head coach Chad Holbrook.

Athlete Cameron Bent of Bluffton High visited Temple and was at the USC spring game. He had planned to go to GT, but didn’t make it. GT iis recruiting him as a QB.

CLEMSON

Clemson is one of the favorites for DE Malik Herring (6-4, 261) of Forsyth, Ga. Herring attended the Boston College game at Clemson last season, a junior day in March and the spring game. He has developed a close relationship with Clemson, and in evaluating its DE personnel he sees an opportunity for early playing time.

“They say I remind them of (former Clemson DE) Shaq Lawson. It’s everything; my swag on the field and how I dress. They always compare me to Shaq.”

Herring also has visited UGA and Alabama. He has not narrowed his list, which is made up of offers from coast to coast, but he is talking the most to Clemson, Southern Cal, UGA, Alabama, UF and Tennessee. “I’m favoring Clemson,” Herring said. “Ahead of, I don’t know. A big lead? It’s getting there.”

However, a UGA fan website reported Herring is expected to choose UGA soon.

Clemson is one of the top five with DB Jacobe Clement of Charlotte. He also has Tennessee, UNC, Wake Forest and NCSU on his list.

Clemson WR commitment Amari Rodgers will undergo surgery for a torn labrum and will miss part of his senior season. Rodgers said he was injured during a 7-on-7 competition a few weeks ago.

Clemson OL commitment Blake Vinson of Ocala, Fla., earned an invitation to The Opening in Oregon this summer.

Clemson offered running back Michael Carter (5-8, 185) of Navarre, Fla. Some of his other offers are Tennessee, Mississippi State, UV, WVU, UF, Louisville, UNC, Alabama and Auburn.

Clemson offered DB CJ Avery of Grenada, Miss. Some of his other offers are Mississippi, Mississippi State, Alabama, California, Kansas, Louisville and Notre Dame. Clemson offered DE Brandon Gaddy (6-5, 280) of Virginia Beach, Va. He also has offers from Florida State, Tennessee, ECU and Marshall.

Clemson also offered ‘18 WR Jahan Dotson of Nazareth, Pa., and ‘18 OL Kavesz Sherard (6-4, 310) of T.L. Hanna High

CLEMSON AND USC

DB Jamyest Williams of Decatur, Ga., has held USC and Clemson in high regard since early in his recruiting process and he still does. He has not yet formulated an official top five, but when he does he will have both of them on it. He has visited each twice this year. Earlier this month he was at USC for a practice and at Clemson for the spring game.

Williams said USC is recruiting him the hardest of all the schools at this point. He also went to UGA for the spring game, and he’s going to Ohio State on May 7. Williams said he’ll probably make his decision during the season, and he’s looking at the opportunity to graduate early.

Linebacker Justin Foster of Shelby, N.C., is one of the top players in his state and one of the heaviest recruited LBs in the country. He’s approaching 30 offers at this point with Clemson, USC, Alabama, UNC, Tennessee, UK, Auburn, Duke, UGA, Louisiana State, Michigan, NCS4, ND, UF and A&M among those on board.

LB KJ Britt of Oxford, Ala., was offered by Clemson. He was at Clemson’s spring game. He also has a USC offer and several others and has been favoring UGA.

QB Dakereon Joyner, an ’18 recruit from Fort Dorchester High in North Charleston, plans to announce his college decision on June 18, 2017. That’s Father’s Day for that year and he wants to honor his late father.

He also will graduate early from high school and will enroll in January of ‘18. Clemson, USC, Tennessee, UNC, UGA and Auburn are among his offers.

USC recently made an offer to DE KJ Henry (6-5, 228) of Clemmons, N.C. Clemson also has offered along with UNC, Alabama, Tennessee, Duke, WVU, WF and others.

OTHERS

T.L. Hanna RB Davijuan Dean was offered by North Carolina Central and attended GT’s spring game on Saturday. DB Latheron Rogers-Anderson of Ridge View High in Columbia picked up offers from Lafayette and G-W.

BASEBALL

Outfielder Ward Hacklen II, a ’17 recruit from Dutch Fork High in Irmo, committed to Clemson.