South Carolina basketball receiving visit from talented North Carolina forward

South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris has brought in a large 2025 signing class. Between the high school prospects and transfer portal players, the Gamecocks will have 11 new players (with one free scholarship spot remaining). Of those 11, five of them (Eli Ellis, Hayden Assemian, and Abu Yarmah from Moravian Prep in the Overtime Elite league and two transfers Christ Essandoko and Elijah Strong) played their prep ball in North Carolina. USC’s first pledge in the 2026 class (Isaac Ellis) also plays at Moravian Prep in North Carolina. Now, another 2026 recruit from the Tar Heel State is on Carolina’s radar.

According to a report from Recruits Zone’s Blake Smith, forward Justin Caldwell will take a June unofficial visit to Columbia. Said Smith, Caldwell will be on campus June 17th.

Stay on top of all things Gamecocks for just $1 for 7 days—lock in this special offer today!

A Berean Baptist Academy product, Caldwell is a 6-8, 215-pound forward. He is a strong body down low and does a lot of his damage near the basket. Caldwell dunks everything around the hoop and can finish through contact. Though he’s primarily a power forward, he can operate away from the basket at times. When he’s away from the paint, his jumper and ballhandling are improving.

Caldwell has double-digit scholarship offers so far, including several from power conference programs. South Carolina has not joined the party with an offer, but with Caldwell visiting, the interest clearly is there.

The On3 industry ranking (a weighted composite of the rankings from On3, 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN) considers Caldwell to be the nation’s No. 153 overall prospect in the 2026 cycle. He’s also No. 23 among all power forwards and No. 9, regardless of position, in North Carolina.

Discuss South Carolina basketball on The Insiders Forum!