South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris is beginning to look abroad for expertise.
Final weekend, Paris supplied a pair of prospects who play for the Omnia Basketball Academy in Finland — 6-3 Morris Ugusuk and 6-0 Okku Federiko.
In keeping with Ugusuk, Paris grew to become conversant in him and his teammate when Federiko’s brother, who’s now at Pitt, made a go to to USC.
“One in all my teammates was on a go to there and my coach has been speaking to them about me and Okku for a very long time now,” Ugusuk mentioned. “We’ve been speaking to the top coach. I might want to meet the coach and see how the employees is. My coach has already mentioned they’re good coaches which are prepared to develop gamers, and that already says loads. We try to come back there as quickly as potential.”
Ugusuk can also be drawing curiosity from Oklahoma State, Duquesne, Pitt and Dayton. He visited Duquesne final week.
“I’m searching for a group that’s going to assist me as a participant and as an individual,” Ugusuk mentioned. “Additionally, a employees that I can speak about all the things, not simply basketball.”
This season, Ugusuk is averaging 11 factors, 4 rebounds and 5 assists per sport. Final summer season, taking part in for the Finland U18 Nationwide Workforce and the Nordic Championship, he was their main scorer at 15.4 factors per sport, and likewise led the group in assists, averaging practically 4 per sport.
This, season Federiko is averaging over 19 factors and 11 rebounds per sport. USC is his first D1 provide.
Citadel, CSU, SoCon information
• The Citadel acquired commitments from LB Jeremiah Holmes of Durham, N.C.; LB Christopher Benton of Haines Metropolis, Fla.; DE DaVonyae Pettis of Shelby, N.C.; and River Bluff RB Cooper Johns … Fort Dorchester QB Zolten Osborne dedicated to Charleston Southern.
• Wofford added switch defensive backs Jahaad Scales (Outdated Dominion) and Maximus Pulley (Western Kentucky), linebacker Rafal Szymanski (Houston) and offensive lineman Cameron Jackson (Louisiana) for the 2023 season. They may be a part of the group at the beginning of the spring semester.
• Furman added grad switch DL Sirod Prepare dinner (5-11, 271) of Wingate. He has one yr of eligibility remaining. Prepare dinner earned taking part in time in 36 video games over 4 seasons at Wingate and was credited with 126 tackles, together with 33.5 for-loss and 18.5 sacks throughout his tenure.
• ATH Evan Javis of Spring Valley obtained a most well-liked walk-on provide from USC … AC Flora TE Jack Moseley dedicated to Lenoir-Rhyne … Northwestern OL Marcus Macon dedicated to SC State ….
• OT Marion Corey (6-4, 285) of Loganville, Ga., dedicated to Coastal Carolina … Barnwell RB Tyler Smith dedicated to S.C. State … QB Riley Staton has transferred from Grey Collegiate to Greenville Excessive.
• Northwestern RB Turbo Richard was supplied by Connecticut and Georgia State … Georgia Tech supplied Greenville WR Mazeo Bennett … West Florence SAF Kelvin Hunter was supplied by Liberty.
Clemson dedication
Clemson hosted its main January junior day Saturday, and one of many guests got here out with a dedication late Saturday night time.
Defensive sort out Champ Thompson (6-3, 280) of Norcross, Ga., is among the many nation’s elite prospects at his place. A few of his different gives included USC, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida State, Alabama, Michigan, Auburn, Miami, North Carolina, Penn State, Notre Dame and, most lately, Colorado.
Harbor replace
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer led a contingent of USC coaches into the house of TE/DE Nyck Harbor of Washington, D.C., final Wednesday night time.
Beamer was the final of three head coaches to go to with the household that night time, following Mike Locksley of Maryland and Mario Cristobal of Miami. Earlier within the week, Dan Lanning of Oregon and Jim Harbaugh of Michigan got here by.
“The assembly actually went properly,” Nyck’s father, Azuka Harbor, mentioned. “It’s like previous household assembly one another once more. We have been simply having a superb dialog. It was refreshing. We talked about loads of stuff. We talked in regards to the canine, Boomer. My spouse is in love with Boomer. It was enjoyable. They’re cool with one another. The entire coaches are all in. It was simply an excellent previous time. It was simply loads of enjoyable to be there and hang around with them.”
Beamer has had many conversations with the Harbors all through the recruiting course of. This was his last probability to see them in particular person earlier than the lifeless interval hit Sunday night time. He did his greatest to make his message very clear to Nyck Harbor.
“Simply to let him know that he’s in good palms,” Azuka Harbor mentioned. “That’s the message I acquired from him, that it doesn’t matter what, you might be in good palms. We’re going to maintain you. I requested him, I mentioned, if I drop off my little one to you, what occurs? He instructed me what he’s going to do. I’ll maintain your little one for you. I mentioned OK, thanks sir.”
Harbor’s choice will probably be introduced on Wednesday throughout a ceremony at his faculty which is slated to begin round midday.
Vols decommitment
WR BJ Gibson (6-0, 170) of Rochelle, Ga., visited USC for junior day as a dedication to Tennessee for baseball. However final week, Gibson introduced he had decommitted from the Vols’ baseball program and as soon as once more was contemplating all of his choices for each sports activities.
The Gamecocks undoubtedly are one among his robust choices proper now largely because of the bond he’s developed with receivers coach Justin Stepp.
“I actually like Coach Stepp. We’ve constructed a relationship over the previous couple of months,” Gibson mentioned. “A private relationship and round soccer. I like his persona. He’s a cool man. He mentioned he appreciated my explosiveness, velocity and the power to make performs.”
Gibson has an extended provide sheet that additionally contains Auburn, LSU, Maryland, Georgia, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, LSU, Iowa State, Syracuse and Kentucky.
“I like South Carolina. I believe South Carolina is an effective faculty educational smart and sports activities smart,” Gibson mentioned. “I believe they’re on the uprise as being a prime program within the nation. I’d take into account them as a high-end faculty and I may see myself taking part in there, however I haven’t selected prime faculties.”
On the path
• OT Jordan Floyd of Lilburn, Ga., and 2026 LB Michael Boulware of Spring Valley attended the USC junior day earlier this month … 2025 DT Elijah Griffin (6-5, 280) of Savannah and 2026 LB Cameron Melvin of Garner, N.C., visited USC Saturday.
• 2026 OG Miles Funderburk (6-1, 280) of Charlotte was in for a go to with USC late in 2022. He can even play on the line of defense … USC is included within the prime 14 with security Kamron Mikell of Statesboro, Ga. The others on the checklist are Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Georgia Southern, Florida State, Duke, Ole Miss, Colorado, East Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Vanderbilt and Cincinnati.
• Safetey Jarvis Boatwright of Clearwater, Fla., named a prime 5 of USC, Florida State, UCF, Tennessee and Florida … USC made the primary reduce right down to 11 with ATH Jalewis Solomon of Ellaville, Ga. The others are Georgia, Miami, Florida, Ohio State, Southern Cal, Colorado, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and Georgia Tech.