Gamecocks, Tigers have early recruiting lead

Just a quick update on the efforts of our seven Carolinas’ major programs, as it seems like two or three new commitments are given every day:

SOUTH CAROLINA: The Gamecocks are currently leading our group with 11 commitments, a batch that is tops in quantity and quality, according to Scout.com. Their ratings system gives S.C. three four-star players (five is the max) and three with three stars.

CLEMSON: The Tigers have seven recruits so far, two with four stars and four with three. Another fast start.

DUKE: Easily the biggest surprise of all. Coach David Cutcliffe’s guys are getting quality players to commit, including one four-star athlete and five with three. This is stunning work for what has invariably been the worst recruiting team in the ACC.

N.C. STATE: Coach Tom O’Brien’s staff is gifted at finding sleepers, and while they are credited with one four-star and a trio of threes among their eight commitments, expect this class to play considerably better than that.

NORTH CAROLINA: The Tar Heels have just three recruits, but one (OL James Hurst) is the area’s only five-star commitment. The other two are threes. Remember, though, that UNC is trying to upgrade its recruiting under Butch Davis and is playing with the big boys. Most highly rated recruits with dozens of offers take longer to decide.

WAKE FOREST and EAST CAROLINA: The Deacons have four recruits, just one at the three-star level. The Pirates have three commits, none of them with as many as three stars. But both of these teams have done remarkable jobs of finding overlooked kids who can play; just check the records.

This was a snapshot glance at our teams’ early progress. There’s more—lots more, to come.

--Stan Olson