WR CJ Smith (6-3 180) of Orlando is one of the top track performers in Florida, and he’s moving quickly with his recruiting process. Sunday night he announced another shortening of his list, which is now down to a top five from a top 10. Surviving the cut were USC, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida and Ole Miss. Auburn was one of the big losers here because the Tigers had Smith scheduled for an official visit June 25th. He now has officials set with Arkansas June 4th, USC June 11th and Florida June 18th. Smith and Gamecock receivers coach Justin Stepp have a long history. Stepp first started to recruit Smith when he was at Arkansas and immediately transitioned that recruiting to the Gamecocks when he arrived in Columbia.
“He’s definitely a huge part of it,” Smith said about Stepp last month. “If he wasn’t there, I don’t think I would be having the conservation. He’s definitely one of the strongest relationships that I have. It’s because of honesty and our connection. He was also a receiver and he’s coached some really good receivers.”
Other Notes:
USC offered RB Anthony Hankerson (5-9 190) of Fort Lauderdale. He’s rated a 3-star prospect and ranked 32nd nationally among running backs. Arizona and Florida are also among his offers. He rushed for 1178 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.
USC offered 2023 SAF Caleb Downs (5-11 180) of Hoschton, GA. Per Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports, Downs will visit Clemson June 4th.
USC offered 2023 4-star TE Luke Hasz (6-3 220) of Bixby, OK. He’s rated the #1 TE nationally in his class in the 247Sports Composite. Last season he had 32 catches for 703 yards and 9 touchdowns.
USC over the weekend offered numerous underclassmen from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale:
2023 ATH Conrad Hussey (5-10 170)
2023 WR Isaiah Hardge (5-11 160)
2023 SAF King Mack (5-11 180)
2024 WR Chance Robinson (6-1 180)
2024 WR Earl Kulp (6-2 175)
2024 ATH Jordan Lyle (6-0 180)
2024 LB Nicholas Rodriguez (6-1 180)
2024 SAF Ryan Mack (5-11 165)
2024 WR James Maidson II (6-3 170)
OL Luke Montgomery (6-5 260) of Findlay, OH plans to make a stop at Clemson June 15th.
Clemson target SAF Sherrod Covil of Chesapeake, VA was offered by Miami. He has plans to visit Clemson unofficially June 11th.
Five-star DE Jeremiah Alexander of Alabaster, AL plans unofficial visit to Clemson June 1st. He’s going to Georgia June 3rd, UCF June 11th, and he also plans visits to Alabama and Florida.
CB Nikai Martinez of Apopka, FL told 247Sports he will visit Clemson unofficially June 4th and USC officially June 25th.
Clemson target DE Samuel Okunlola of Brockton, MA was offered by Georgia Tech and Pitt.
DE Kaseem Vauls of Palmetto Prep, formerly of Irmo, was offered by Jackson State.
Basketball Notes:
USC offered 6-6 Lewis Duarte of Charlotte. Rutgers and Creighton also recently offered.
USC offered 6-7 Christian Watson of Washington, DC.
