The South Carolina men’s basketball program has concluded their 2011-2012 season and now time to recruit. We mentioned some on the recruiting board earlier in the week and the coaching staff is now looking at some JUCO help. So basically, anyone want to play basketball at USC as help is needed starting yesterday?
The Gamecocks have one signee for the 2012 class in Tyrone Haughton of Miami. They have three more scholarships available at this point.
Since Horn’s arrival at USC, he has signed a total of 13 players.
Let’s review Coach Horn’s recruiting over the years:
His first class consisted of four players:
Lakeem Jackson (Jr): three-star prospect (North Carolina); Ramon Galloway: three-star prospect (Florida); Stephen Spinella: three-star prospect (New Jersey); Johndre Jefferson: JUCO transfer/(Lake Marion, SC).
Now out of that class, here is how the panned out: Jackson has not lived up to his talent, Galloway transfered out to LaSalle, Jefferson graduated last year after playing just two years, Spinella transfered out by then quit basketball and re-enrolling at USC.
Not a productive class overall.
Horn’s second recruiting class had six players in 2010:
Bruce Ellington (Soph): four-star prospect (South Carolina); R.J. Slawson (Soph): three-star prospect (South Carolina); Eric Smith (Soph): three-star prospect (South Carolina); Damontre Harris (Soph): four-star prospect (North Carolina); Carlton Geathers (Rfresh): three-star prospect (South Carolina); Brian Richardson (Soph): three-star prospect (North Carolina).
Jury is still out but it is easy to say this class too has not lived up to the potential. Either that is a coaching issue once the kids are in the program or a bad evaluation of talent on the recruiting trail. Their is hope with Ellington and Harris and Richardson have shown promise.
Horn’s third recruiting class included three players in 2011:
Damien Leonard (Fr): four-star prospect (South Carolina); Anthony Gill (Fr.): three-star prospect (North Carolina); Brenton Williams (JUCO/Jr): three-star prospect (Florida/JUCO).
This was a talented class with Leonard and Gill. Williams also has shown he has good skills. Maybe this is the class where hope lies but if that is true then these three need to turn their games up a notch.
Horn’s fourth recruiting class will be this year:
Tyrone Haughton: three-star prospect (Florida).
With this class, there is room for 2-3 depending on what Ellington does. If he sticks with basketball then that will take a scholly away. Keep in mind, Horn had two good recruits in Ian Baker and Carlos Morris, de-commit because of Horn’s uncertainty as the head coach of South Carolina post-2012 season. Haughton is a solid player and should play right away.
Summary
Coach Horn keeps saying that he is building a program. Hard to stomach that when you look at his recruiting over the year’s. If Horn is too stick around for another year then this class is super important if he is truly going to build the program.
