A basketball prospect making a name for himself this summer has been 7-0 center Jones Lay of Moravian Prep in North Carolina. South Carolina coach Lamont Paris offered him in June becoming the first coach of a major program to offer.
Though he lives in Tabor City, NC, Lay first went to high school at Green Sea-Floyds. He then attended Atlantic Collegiate in Conway before moving to Moravian Prep. So, with a background connected to the state, Lay was thrilled to get the offer from South Carolina.
“It’s great. I’m just going to keep working, keep getting better and be the best player I can possibly be,” Lay said. “I’d been recruited a little bit in the past. I’ve been to team camp at South Carolina, so they’d seen me a couple of times. I have four teammates already at South Carolina or already committed to South Carolina.”
Paris and assistants have watched Lay closely this summer, which has been a crucial time for Lay after missing all of last season with a broken foot. He’s now able to show the college coaches, like Paris, what he can do when healthy.
“I think he likes my size and my mobility,” Lay said. “I’m just going to use that to the best of my advantage and try and be the best player I can. I’ve always had a great feeling for South Carolina. I’ve always had a good connection with them.”
Another big name program, actually the biggest in the country right now, has popped up on the radar with Lay. Florida is getting involved and will have Lay in for an official visit the weekend of September 6th according to the staff at Moravian. That’s the only visit he has scheduled thus far, and Lay said South Carolina most likely will receive one as well.
Lay also has offers from George Mason, Northeastern, Old Dominion and Eastern Kentucky.