Gamecock Basketball Recruiting: What to Expect

Get the latest scoop on who the Gamecocks are targeting on the recruiting trail and what to expect from Frank Martin and company.

Introduction

Since Frank Martin took over as Head Coach in 2012, the South Carolina Gamecocks men’s basketball team has seen a significant uptick in recruiting. In fact, the Gamecocks have landed some of the top recruits in the country in recent years

However, with success comes expectations. And, with high expectations come high pressure. So, what can fans expect from the Gamecocks’ recruiting class of 2019?

For starters, the Gamecocks currently have the No. 2 ranked Recruiting Class in the country according to 247Sports Composite Team Rankings. That said, there is still a long way to go until Signing Day on November 14th. A lot can change between now and then, but as it stands right now, here is a look at who the Gamecocks are targeting and who they have landed so far.

The Current Roster

The 2019-2020 Season will see the graduation of four Gamecock basketball players Chris Silva Maik Kotsar, Hassani Gravett, and Tre Campbell will all leave the program after this season. That will leave the team with two open scholarships for the 2020 recruiting class Here is a look at the current roster:

• Jared Harper, G, Jr.
• Chuma Okeke, F, So.
• Bryce Brown G, Sr.
• Anfernee McLemore, F, Sr.
• Jaylen Hands G, Fr.
• Jamal Johnson, G, Fr.
• Isaiah Joe, G, Fr.
• JD Davison, G, Fr.

The Recruiting Process

It’s no secret that college Basketball Recruiting is intense. The process of landing a top recruit can be long and complicated, and it often comes down to the wire. Here’s a look at what you can expect during the recruiting process

The first step in the recruiting process is identifying potential recruits. This is done through scouting services, which compile lists of the top High School players in the country. college coaches then use these lists to narrow down their target list of recruits.

Once a coach has identified a potential recruit, they will begin contacting them and their family to gauge interest. If the interest is mutual, the coach will arrange for a visit to campus. This is an important step in the process, as it allows both the coach and the recruit to get to know each other and get a feel for whether or not they would be a good fit.

If everything goes well on the visit, the next step is for the coach to extend an offer of admission to the school. Once an offer has been made, it’s up to the recruit to decide whether or not to accept it.

The final step in the process is signing a National Letter of Intent (NLI). This is a binding agreement between a recruit and a school that stipulates that the recruit will attend that school for one academic year in exchange for receiving athletics scholarship money. Once an NLI has been signed, the recruit is officially part of the team!

The Official Visit

The official visit is a recruiting tool utilized by college basketball programs to evaluate potential recruits in person.

During an official visit, the recruit will be given a tour of the campus and facilities, and will meet with the Coaching Staff and players. The recruit will also have the opportunity to attend a college basketball game

The purpose of the official visit is to give the recruit a taste of what it would be like to attend that particular school and play basketball there.

Official visits are strictly regulated by the NCAA, and each school is allowed to bring in a certain number of recruits for an official visit each year.

The Unofficial Visit

The unofficial visit is when a recruit comes to campus on their own dime to tour the facilities and meet with the coaching staff Unlike an official visit, which can only occur during your senior year of high school there is no limit to how many unofficial visits you can take. This makes the unofficial visit a critical part of the recruiting process for both the player and the Coaching Staff

During an unofficial visit, the recruit will get a chance to see the campus, meet with the coaches, and watch a practice or game. They may also get a chance to meet with academic advisors and tour the dormitories. The purpose of the unofficial visit is to give the recruit a better feel for what it would be like to attend that school.

It is important to note that while NCAA rules do not prohibit recruiting conversations from taking place during an unofficial visit, they must be initiated by the prospect (not the coach). This means that coaches cannot offer scholarships or discuss specific recruiting offers during an unofficial visit.

The National Letter of Intent

The National Letter of Intent is a binding agreement between a prospective student-athlete and an institution in which the institution agrees to provide athletics financial aid for one academic year in exchange for the prospective student-athlete’s agreement to attend the institution for one academic year.

The Early Signing Period

The Early Signing Period is the first opportunity for high school seniors to sign a National Letter of Intent for NCAA Division I and II basketball. The period begins on November 11 and ends on November 18. The regular signing period for NCAA Division I and II basketball begins on April 14 and ends on May 19.

The Regular Signing Period

The regular signing period for high school basketball recruits began on April 11 and ends on May 16. During this time, seniors can sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play at a NCAA Division I or II school. If they have not signed an NLI, they are considered unsigned seniors and can still be recruited by schools until the start of the next signing period in November.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you are a senior basketball player who is still undecided about where you want to play in college. First, it is important to remember that you can always communicate directly with college coaches even if you have not yet signed an NLI. You can also take unofficial visits to campuses at any time during your senior year.

If you are planning to wait until the late signing period to make your decision, it is important to keep your options open and continue communicating with coaches from different schools. You should also be aware that some scholarships may not be available by the time the late signing period rolls around, so it may be in your best interest to make a decision sooner rather than later.

The most important thing to remember is that there is no rush to make a decision about where you want to play basketball in college. Take your time, do your research, and ultimately choose the school that feels like the best fit for you academically, athletically, and personally.

The Late Signing Period

The late signing period for NCAA Basketball is from April 12th to May 17th. This is the time when high school seniors can sign a National Letter of Intent to play Basketball at an NCAA Division I or II school.

During the late signing period, coaches are allowed to contact seniors by telephone, text message, and in person during visits to their school or home. They can also write them letters and hand deliver recruiting materials to them.

Coaches are not allowed to offer seniors athletic scholarships during the late signing period, but they can talk to them about other forms of financial aid that may be available.

The late signing period is important for seniors who have not yet decided which school they want to attend. It gives them one last chance to be recruited by colleges before they have to make a decision.

The Transfer Process

Under NCAA rules, all student-athletes have five years to complete four seasons of eligibility. If a player does not redshirt, he has four years to play four seasons. In order for a transfer student-athlete to be immediately eligible to compete at his new school, he must meet one of the following NCAA requirements:

The player has completed his degree at his previous school and is transferring to a school where he can complete a graduate degree not offered at his previous school. In this instance, the player is eligible to compete immediately.

The player is transferring from a two-year institution to a four-year institution. In this instance, the player is eligible to compete immediately.

The player is transferring due to documented extraordinary circumstances that are outside the control of the student-athlete (i.e., severe injury or illness in the student-athlete’s immediate family). In order for the student-athlete to be immediately eligible under this exception, he must provide verifiable documentation of the circumstances to the NCAA Eligibility Center

The player has transferred because of involuntary removal from the previous school’s team (i.e., not for disciplinary reasons). In order for the student-athlete to be immediately eligible under this exception, he must provide verifiable documentation from his former head coach or athletic director that confirms his involuntary removal from the team and that such removal was unrelated to academic performance or disciplinary reasons.