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South Carolina basketball offers talented freshman

by: Kevin Miller05/19/25kevinbmiller52
South Carolina basketball recruiting target Mason Collins. Photo credit: Phenom Hoops | @PHRecruitNews on Twitter/X
South Carolina basketball recruiting target Mason Collins. Photo credit: Phenom Hoops | @PHRecruitNews on Twitter/X

South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris and his staff checked in with class of 2026 target Kohl Rosario over the weekend at the Nike EYBL session two in Memphis. While there, the Gamecocks dispensed a new scholarship offer to a younger player. On Monday, class of 2028 wing Mason Collins announced his first Division-I offer.

Collins, a standout for Christ School in Arden, North Carolina (a suburb of Asheville), plays his AAU ball for Team CP3’s U15 team, a younger age group of the same AAU program Rosario has been with during this EYBL circuit. Though the ’28 cycle remains unranked by most publications, he is one of the top freshmen in the country. ESPN has taken its first stab at ranking the class, and the outlet ranked Collins America’s No. 20 overall player. He also made On3’s “Players to Watch” list for the class of 2028.

Team USA’s U16 National Team has invited Collins to training camp in Colorado Springs for the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup. He will compete with 35 other young players for roster spots ahead of the June international tournament.

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While in middle school, Collins moved from the Irmo High School program (he already played varsity at his young age) to Christ School and reclassified to the class of 2028. As a freshman with the Greenies, he averaged nearly 10 points per game. The 6-6 wing showcased smooth shooting form and switchable defense while playing against high-level competition.

Between his time at Irmo and at Christ School, Collins has played guard, wing, and forward, though his guard skills coupled with his forward length seem to point toward a future as a matchup-nightmare on the wing.

While South Carolina represents Collins’ first Division-I offer, it won’t be his last. Collins will continue drawing significant power conference interest over the next three years.

Collins’ father, Mardy Collins, played in the NBA (he was a first-round selection of the New York Knicks in the same draft as former Gamecock Renaldo Balkman). His mother, Ariana Moore, is the South Carolina women’s basketball Director of Operations. Moore played under Dawn Staley at Temple.

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