6-9 Justin Caldwell of Fayetteville, NC, spent much of Tuesday in Columbia on an unofficial visit with South Carolina. It was his second time on campus after attending a game last season.
USC head coach Lamont Paris and assistant coach Eddie Shannon gave Caldwell the recruiting treatment before Paris dropped the offer on him at the end of the day.
“When I got there, I met up with Coach Shannon, and I met Coach Paris and some of the other coaches,” Caldwell said. “I had a little meal with Coach Paris. We toured the facilities a little bit. They had practice, so I watched the guards and the wings work out, and after that, the bigs work out. I took some photos in the jersey, then I had another meeting with Coach Paris, and he offered me. It surprised me a little bit.”
Caldwell really should not have been surprised. He’s closing in on 25 offers, so he’s got a lot of game. In fact, Paris and Shannon see in his game a lot of what they had in a soon-to-be first-round draft choice.
“I play really hard. I’m really versatile for my position,” Caldwell said. “They said I remind them of the (Collin) Murray-Boyles kid that’s going into the draft. I play hard, I have skill, and I’m very versatile. I’m comfortable with both (back to the basket and facing up). I would say it’s like 50-50. Most of my points come down low.”
Caldwell averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds per game last season. He can put the ball on the floor and drive by defenders, and he is strong around the basket.
Caldwell did not set an official visit date with the Gamecocks during his visit, but he said he plans to for later this year. The offer puts the Gamecocks in contention for him.
“It definitely boosts them a lot,” Caldwell said. “I was definitely always interested in South Carolina. Them offering me definitely pushed them up.”
NC State has been his only other recruiting visit so far this year, and the Wolfpack offered him on his visit. He is going to Georgetown on June 30th, and he also plans to visit Maryland. Last season, Caldwell made stops at Iowa, Ohio State, Tennessee, Charlotte, High Point and East Carolina.
Some of his other offers are Seton Hall, Xavier, Maryland, Georgetown, VCU, Villanova, TCU, Memphis, Ohio State, Iowa, Mississippi State, East Carolina and Charlotte.