King gunning to join Gamecocks in spring

RECRUITING

RECRUITING

He has academic and legal issues to straighten out, but South Carolina commitment Jarriel King, 6-7, 270-pound defensive lineman from North Charleston, is optimistic about enrolling at USC for the spring semester.

That's according to North Charleston High School head coach Jimmy Brown who has known King for seven years and remains in close contact with him.

King was rated among the nation's top junior college prospects going into this season at Georgia Military Academy. But he was dismissed from the school in August after being accused in a minor legal issue.

King made an unofficial visit to USC for the S.C. State game two weeks ago, and, according to Brown, he talked with Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier and four assistants.

"They are aware of the situation," Brown said. "He (King) feels like everything at Georgia Military will be straightened up and he'll be at USC this spring. He's been hesitant to talk (to the media) because a lot that has been said has been blown out of proportion.

Brown said King is living in North Charleston and could have returned to Georgia Military to complete his academic requirements but would have had to pay for off-campus, something he was not prepared to do.

Brown said King does remain committed to the Gamecocks and is trying to work out a solution to meet the academic and Southeastern Conference requirements pertaining to junior college transfers.

Meanwhile:

USC and Clemson added to their respective 2008 recruiting classes last week with the Gamecocks gaining QB Aramis Hillary (6-3, 212) of Strom Thurmond and the Tigers landing LB Tarik Rollins (6-2, 205). Spurrier wants a mobile quarterback in his arsenal and he offered Hillary last Thursday.

"I am so happy about it that I cried," said Hillary, the nephew of former Gamecock and NFL receiver Ira Hillary. "I feel like I am on top of the world."

Hillary celebrated his commitment by going out Friday night and rushing for 118 yards on 18 carries to lead his team to victory.

Rollins made an official visit to Clemson for the Florida State game and was hooked at that point.

"I liked the atmosphere and I felt comfortable with the coaches and players," he said. "They are very aggressive with their linebackers. They like to blitz a lot."

Rollins selected the Tigers from more than 20 major offers.

WR D.L. Moore (6-5, 188) of Bowling Green, Ky., is scheduled for an official visit to USC this weekend. He has been to Colorado and also plans to visit Nebraska and Purdue. Moore attended a one day summer camp at USC, and that was when he was offered.

Chester ATH Charles Whitlock (5-11, 175) made an unofficial visit to Alabama for the Crimson Tide's Arkansas game. The Tide is recruiting him as a cornerback. USC, which is recruiting Whitlock as a receiver, will get a visit form him Nov. 9. He also is scheduled for Florida on Nov. 23, and he plans to set dates with Clemson and North Carolina.

ATH Sanders Commings Jr. (6-2, 195) of Augusta made his second unofficial visit to USC for the S.C. State game. He met with the baseball staff as well and hopes to play both sports in college. He plans to take official visits with USC, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida and Maryland, though he said he could have a decision in a couple of weeks.

Also making a second unofficial visit to USC for the S.C. State game was DE Robert Quinn (6-6, 255) of Fort Dorchester. He has not narrowed his list or set official visits. He has offers are Clemson, Florida, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, Virginia, Maryland, Louisville, Florida State, Rutgers and N.C. State.

AC Flora OL Kenneth Page (6-3, 290) also took in the S.C. State game on a second unofficial visit to USC. He's also been to Clemson for a game. He has not decided on other unofficial visits, and the only official visit he has set is Notre Dame for Oct. 19.

One prospect who had planned to make an unofficial visit to USC for the S.C .State game but didn't was LB Reggie Bowens (6-2, 218) of Garner, N.C. That's because his own game was pushed back to that Saturday. Bowens, who has said there's an 80 percent chance he'll commit to the Gamecocks, will try to make it to Columbia for this Saturday's game.

TE Dwayne Allen (6-4, 240) of Fayetteville, N.C., plans to take an unofficial visit to USC for this week's game. Allen has been a Georgia commitment since December and still considers himself one, yet he plans to also look at Clemson, North Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech. He has an official visit set with Georgia on Nov. 9.

Clemson and USC are showing strong interest in DB Rashard Hall (6-3, 190) of St. Augustine, Fla., but have not offered. Hall is confident both will. He was at the Tennessee-Florida game and plans to be at the Virginia Tech-Clemson game. Of the schools that have offered, Hall said he's most interested in West Virginia, Mississippi State, LSU, Maryland and Ball State.

Hall's teammate, DB Carlton Lewis (6-3, 192), does have a USC offer and made an unofficial visit for the S.C. State game. He also likes South Florida, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech. He will set official visits with his four favorites. Lewis also can play receiver.

Clemson and USC are still being considered by WR Deion Walker (6-3, 188) of Christchurch, Va., for official visits. He has been to Penn State and will see Florida State on Oct. 5. He will set a date with Southern Cal and is undecided about the final two visits. He's also considering Michigan, Notre Dame, Florida, LSU and California for those final visits.

USC seems to have made an impact with Savannah RB Franklin Green (5-11, 200), a Florida commitment who made an unofficial visit for the S.C. State game. "I probably won't make a final decision until after the season because my eyes are really open now," Green said. His teammate, DE Chaz Sutton (6-3, 250), also is a Florida commitment and he also came in for the S.C. State game, but he said he remains firm with the Gators.

RB Jamie Harper (6-0, 222) of Jacksonville, Fla., has over 30 offers and has not cut his list according to his coach. Harper was at the Tennessee-Florida game and has also been to Clemson for a game. Harper's coach said Florida and Clemson probably will get official visits, and he also likes USC, Georgia, LSU and Georgia Tech.

DL Brandon Thompson (6-2 275) of Thomasville, Ga., has visited LSU and will make an official visit to Georgia Tech this weekend. He also has scheduled Florida State for Oct. 19. Thompson will visit Clemson and he's looking at USC and Ohio State for his final trip. Thompson has been strong on Clemson for months, but USC is helped by the fact his father played with Spurrier for Tampa Bay of the USFL.

The final six with OL Ricky Barnum (6-4, 275) of Lakeland, Fla., are USC, Florida, South Florida, Georgia, West Virginia and Alabama. He was at the Tennessee-Florida game and has been to South Florida for a game.

USC remains in the mix with OL Elliott Williams (6-5, 270) of Woodstock, Ga. He plans to get to games at — and set official visits — with the Gamecocks, Auburn and Georgia. He's favoring Auburn.

OL Zebrie Sanders (6-6, 273) of Clayton, Ohio, made an official visit to Florida for the Tennessee game. He has Georgia set for Nov. 2 and will schedule visits to LSU and UCLA. He is considering USC, Stanford and a few others for his fifth visit. His top three are Florida, Georgia and UCLA.

Clemson and USC are among the offers for ATH E.J. Abrams-Ward (6-5, 215) of Thomasville, N.C. He wants to play receiver in college, and he said USC, North Carolina and Tennessee are recruiting him for that. Clemson likes him as a tight end and Boston College said they want him as a quarterback. He also has offers from Wake Forest, N.C. State, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Florida and Virginia. The only official visit he's certain about is North Carolina.

Two receivers recruited by USC committed elsewhere: Rodriquez Wilks (6-1, 200) of Smyrna, Tenn., to Tennessee, and Jarmon Fortson (6-3 220) of Columbus, Ga., to Auburn.

Basketball news

USC target Delwan Graham (6-5) of Dunwoody, Ga., committed last week to LSU. He had made official visits to USC and Ole Miss and committed to LSU before visiting the campus which he did over the weekend. "He just felt it was a good fit for him," said his coach, Scott Bracco. "That was a tough choice for Delwan. I was very impressed with how South Carolina handled Delwan's recruiting."