Previewing a big recruiting weekend with priority portal target on campus
The Gamecocks are hosting one of its priority transfer portal targets this weekend on a visit in BJ Mack and the staff is already rolling out the red carpet.
The Wofford transfer arrives Friday night for the start of his official visit and South Carolina’s staff is already sending out messages while roundabout welcoming him on campus.
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The Gamecocks can’t officially tweet to or mention Mack by name since he’s a prospect. But a few staff members have already taken to social media to tease his coming visit.
Assistant coach Eddie Shannon tweeted a picture of the Gamecock logo with the caption “Loading…” while special assistant to the head coach Carey Rich tweeted “My weekend Mood…Let’s go @GamecockMBB” with a video of Lamont Paris and the team celebrating after a win.
The official account even tweeted a video earlier in the week after Myles Stute committed “It’s been a great start to the week…Who’s next????”
The Cotton Gin gave him the big recruit treatment with “We Want BJ Mack” plastered on the marquee Thursday night.
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It would be a big get for Lamont Paris and his program in year two. Mack is a potential veteran piece for a team needing to bolster its frontcourt.
Mack’s been South Carolina’s primary big target since the minute the regular season ended and Mack entered the transfer portal.
Lamont Paris delayed his visit to Nashville for the SEC Tournament to meet with Mack and his family. The entire South Carolina staff–Paris and his three assistants–went up to Charlotte to visit the following week.
Mack included South Carolina in his initial list cut to 10 and again in his final five. Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa and LSU also made the cut.
He’s already visited three of those schools: Alabama, Iowa and LSU. He’s scheduled to visit Arkansas the week after his official visit to South Carolina.
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Mack’s visit to Columbia will run through Sunday morning. The 6-foot-8 forward recently told Michael Lananna of The State his plan was to announce his decision on May 4, his mother’s birthday.
Mack started his career at South Florida before transferring to Wofford. He averaged 14.1 points and 5.2 rebounds over three seasons (69 starts), starting every game the last two seasons. In that span he averaged 16.5 points on 51.4 percent shooting (37.6 percent from three) and hauled in 5.8 boards.
Last year he scored a career-high 16.6 points on 49.2 percent shooting and 33.5 percent from three. He’s also a career 82.1 percent free throw shooter.
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The Gamecocks have already added three portal pieces to pair with next year’s returners and incoming freshmen. Minnesota’s Ta’Lon Cooper, The Citadel’s Stephen Clark and Stute (Vanderbilt) have all announced commitments.
South Carolina also has two freshmen set to enroll this summer in Collin Murray-Boyles and Arden Conyers.
