2023 Four-star power forward 6-8 Brandon Gardner of Columbia announced Thursday morning he is transferring from Gray Collegiate in Columbia to Word of God Academy in Raleigh. Gardner is ranked the #5 power forward nationally for his class in the 247Sports Composite. His offer list includes USC, Clemson, Illinois, Texas A&M, Auburn, NC State, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Kansas, Memphis and DePaul. He has taken unofficial visits to USC, NC State, Maryland, Georgetown, Duke and North Carolina.
Another of the state’s top basketball recruits in the 2022 class will play outside the state next season. 6-9 Noah Clowney of Dorman, who held offers from Clemson and USC, announced Wednesday he has narrowed his list to a top four of Indiana, Virginia Tech, Florida and Alabama. Clowney averaged 10 points and 9 rebounds per game last season. He’s rated a three-star, the #88 prospect nationally in his class and the #4 prospect in South Carolina by 247Sports. He joins Keenan PG Jazian Gortman as players in the 2022 class who won’t stay in-state. Gortman announced earlier this month he had signed with the pro league Overtime Elite and would be skipping his senior year of high school.
6-6 Joshua Ola-Joseph of Osseo, MN named a top three of Clemson, Minnesota and Loyola-Chicago. He also has offers from Cal-Poly, Colorado State, New Mexico and Texas A&M. He made an official visit to Loyola in July.
6-6 Ryan Dunn of Pennsburg, PA, who attends the Perkiomen School in Freeport, NY, included USC in his top 8. The others are Boston College, Minnesota, Virginia, Georgetown, Maryland, Oklahoma State and Pitt. Clemson was also among his offers. He’s rated a three-star and ranked #5 prospect in New York in the 247Sports Composite. He’s ranked 47th nationally among small forwards.
2023 PG 6-5 Caleb Foster of Oak Hill Prep, VA included Clemson in his top eight. The others are Auburn, Virginia, Stanford, Duke, Wake Forest, Louisville and Charlotte. Foster is rated a five-star and ranked the #3-point guard nationally in his class. USC also offered him. He’s a native of Harrisburg, NC.
2023 TE Ty Lockwood of Nashville announced a commitment Thursday to Ohio State. USC, Florida State and Penn State were also on his short list.
Former Greer TE Jaleel Skinner of Greer, who is now at IMG, has set October 9th for his commitment announcement. He’s had a short list of Clemson, Alabama, Texas, Florida State and Miami have been on his short list.
Spartanburg PK John Love committed to Virginia Tech.
2023 CB Brandon Cisse of Lakewood was offered by Akron, his first offer.
The USC baseball team landed a transfer from Vanderbilt in OF Matt Hogan (6-0 195). He’s a native of Melville, NY and was ranked the #7 prospect and #1 outfielder in New York by Perfect Game as a high school senior. Over three seasons with the Commodores, Hogan played in 29 games and hit .105 (2 hits in 19 at-bats) with 1 RBI. Hogan is the second SEC player to announce a transfer to USC. Earlier Missouri 1B Brandt Belk announced plans to move to the Gamecocks.
2024 LHP/1B Beau Hollins of River Bluff committed to USC. His father Dave played at USC and later in the Major Leagues, primarily with the Philllies.
