#STRecruiting: Coach updates Zaire Wade and #Gamecocks

USC basketball coach Frank Martin already has the son of one former NBA player coming into his program this summer, and he’s working to add a second. 6-3 Devin Carter of Miami and Brewster Academy in New Hampshire committed to Martin a year ago. HE’s the son of former NBA player Anthony Carter. Martin also is trying to land 6-3 Zaire Wade of Chicago and Brewster, the son of NBA future hall-of-famer Dwayne Wade.

“I know that he’s had quite a few Zooms and conversations with a slew of coaches over the last couple of weeks, and he has had some dialogue with coach Martin at South Carolina,” Brewster coach Jason Smith said.  “I’m not sure what Zaire’s timeline is.  He just departed campus to finish the last year via remote learning.  Zaire wants to visit some campuses, so that’s what he’s going to do.  He has had dialogue with four or five schools over the last couple of weeks, and my guess is he’ll probably have a decision within the next three weeks when he takes some campus tours.”

Wade himself has not said much about his recruiting. Some other school reported as involved with him include TCU, Rhode Island, Toledo and DePaul. Smith said one reason the Gamecocks are strongly in the mix is Martin himself.

“The type of coach he is, and type of person he is,” Smith said.  “The relationships that coach has with is players, current and past.  I know that both have said to me that they’ve enjoyed communicating with the other.”

The Gamecocks’ cause with Wade may also be helped by having Carter coming to the program, though Smith said by no means is Carter pressuring Wade to join him in Columbia.

“They are so close that Devin ultimately wants Zaire to go where he’s going to be happiest,” Smith said.  “They are best of friends.  They were roommates.  They were together all the time this past year here at Brewster, but I think their relationship is such that Devin ultimately wants to make sure Zaire has a great experience wherever he goes.”

Wade is rated a three-star and is ranked the #32 combo-guard nationally in the class in the 247Sports Composite.

“He’s a really athletic guard at 6-3,” Smith said.  “We played him as a point, but he is able to play off the ball as well.  A good perimeter shooter.  Very athletic.  Great length.  Great teammate, very well liked, one of our leaders this year.”

The Gamecocks have eight newcomers set to join the program next season. Five play in the backcourt.

Other Notes:

• USC QB target Braden Davis told 247Sports Sunday at an Elite 11 competition in Pennsylvania who hopes to make a decision by the end of April. He’s had a top 7 of USC, Stanford, Georgia Tech, NC State, Duke, West Virginia and Cincinnati.
• DE Tomiwa Durojaiye of of Middletown, DE was at the USC spring game Sunday. He’s on a trip that also included stops at Duke, NC State, Georgia Tech and Virginia.
• Dutch Fork WR Antonio Williams attended the USC spring game Saturday and SAF Dequandre Smith of Spring Valley said he would attend the game.
• USC target OT Ryan Brubaker visited Ole Miss this weekend on his own for the spring game.
• DT Felix Hixon of Jackson, GA has set official visits with USC for June 7th and Illinois June 11th.
• USC target RB Jaylon Glover of Lakeland, FL was offered by Iowa.
• USC offered 2023 RB Daylan Smothers (6-0 185) of Charlotte. He also has offers from NC State and Old Dominion.
• Clemson target SAF Jacoby Mathews of Ponchatoula, LA committed to LSU.
• Hammond RB CJ Stokes was offered by Colorado and West Virginia. He has officials set with Vanderbilt June 4th, Missouri June 11th and Michigan June 18th.
• Trinity Collegiate RB Reggion Bennett was offered by Army.
• Blythewood QB Chase Martin committed to Newberry.
• Clemson offered 6-4 Emanuel Sharp of Tampa. He’s rated a four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite and the #8 shooting guard nationally in the class. Last season he averaged 25 points and 4 assists per game according to MaxPreps. Other reported offers include Florida, Georgia Tech, Iona, Louisville, Penn State, Xavier and Rutgers.