The USC basketball program got a much needed boost on Wednesday night with a one-point win, 57-56, over the Georgia Bulldogs. Head Coach Darrin Horn is hoping to ride this brief wave of momentum through the weekend by winning consecutive, back-to-back SEC games in the Colonial Life Arena for the first time in two years since defeating Kentucky (ranked #1 at the time) 68-62 and Georgia 78-77 in the CLA in late January 2010. A winning environment at home today might pay a lot of dividends both on & off the court for the embattled USC Head Basketball Coach and his future in Columbia.
According to Phil Kornblut of the South Carolina Radio News Network, in the stands watching this Saturday’s game versus LSU on an official visit will be a prospect named Sheldon Jeter from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. Jeter is a 6’7”, 210 pound perimeter player and rated the #1 2012 prospect in the Greater Pittsburgh Area, per the Pittsburgh Basketball Report. The Keystone state swingman holds offers from South Carolina, Wisconsin, Penn State, Northeastern and Duquesne while the hometown school, Pittsburgh, is still evaluating the hardwood hoopster. Horn and his staff have piqued the interest late in the recruiting game for this Pennsylvania player and securing Jeter's official visit this weekend could propel the Gamecocks to the top of his list of school choices.
IMHO it is quite an accomplishment for the embattled Gamecocks basketball coach to get any basketball prospect to visit the Colonial Life-less Arena this season. I would call Horn and the Gamecocks a long shot to land this prospect’s signature especially if the home town Pitt Panthers extend an offer to Jeter. The 6'7" wing player visited Wisconsin back in early January and named the Badgers his leader post-visit. But anytime you can get a high school kid on campus and show him a game day atmosphere (well in USC’s case a nice arena and warm weather; maybe they can shuttle the young man over to “the Ray” and show him how South Carolina fans show support for a winning program with an established leader) there is always a chance for a university to inevitably "ink" the prospect's signature come the NCAA Spring Basketball Signing period in mid-April thru mid-May.
Coach Horn and the Gamecocks will have to overcome more than likely a sparse crowd and pitiful atmosphere inside the CLA. Also Mother Nature did not do the men’s basketball team any favors today by forcing a doubleheader between USC and VMI in baseball with a Noon start time on Saturay to avoid the rain scheduled in Columbia over the weekend. Even though LSU will not inspire Gamecocks fans to flock to the Colonial Life Arena and watch a basketball game, this game is very winnable for Horn’s program and any win on the schedule for the Gamecocks in front of any prospect is a positive.
SPURspective’s Analysis: Jeter is a solid prospect. He is not a highly rated basketball player but his stock is rising as his senior season unfolds. I would say the likelihood of USC securing a commitment from Jeter is 25% at this moment. It will be hard to pluck a prospect from Big 10 country and Pittsburgh area if Pitt decides to offer Jeter this late in the game. Throw in Horn’s uncertain future at USC after this season and the likelihood of an out-of-state high school senior committing to Carolina is bleak at best!
Go Gamecocks!
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