The early signing period for college basketball begins Wednesday and USC coach Frank Martin now has two commitments in the fold. Tuesday afternoon 6-8 Daniel Hankins-Sanford of Charlotte announced his pledge to the Gamecocks choosing them over East Tennessee State and Georgia Southern. He joins 6-8 Zachary Davis of Denmark-Olar as Gamecock commitments.
Hankins-Sanford made his official visit with the Gamecocks the weekend of the Vanderbilt football game. While on campus, he got the chance to watch the team practice and came away feeling the program was right for him.
“I feel like I fit in his (Martin’s) system, Hankins-Sanford said after his visit. “I feel like I fit in what he’s trying to do over there at South Carolina. He’s a great coach, somebody that I have I trust in. I know I can meet the demands on the defensive end, that’s not a concern. The offensive game is not a concern either. Just a little touching up on areas here and there. I’ve been working on staying balance on my shot, ball-handling and being consistent. I can knock the three down. I’ve got the outside game, and the mid-range is there. It’s just staying consistent with everything.”
Hankins-Sanford averaged over 22 points and 10 rebounds per game last season. His coach Brian Frasier said the Gamecocks are getting a prospect with a lot of promise in his yes.
“He can guard one thru five. He’s all muscle, athletic,” Frasier said. “He has only been playing since the seventh grade, so he has a lot of upside. To be able to play the wing, to be able to post, he has some major upside. The biggest thing I love about him is his ability to guard one thru five. He shot threes last year around 40%. He can get it off the bounce. He got it anyway he wanted it. Dunks, offensive rebounds, drives to the basket, pullups, threes, he just kind of had his way wherever he wanted to go.”
The Gamecocks also remain involved with 6-5 Desmond Claude of New Haven, CT and 7-1 Christian Reeves from Oak Hill Academy, VA as targets for this class.
