FOOTBALL RECRUIT TO HIT THE HARDWOOD …
University of South Carolina basketball coach Frank Martin must not have liked the recent criticism of his program …
A day after getting blasted for his allegedly lackluster recruiting efforts, Martin has landed a new player … from the Gamecock football team.
Evan Hinson – a 6-foot-4, 238-pound freshman tight end – will join Martin’s squad this fall as a shooting guard. Hinson averaged 23.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game as a junior at Deltona High School in Deltona, Florida.
He played high school hoops for his father, Denny Hinson.
Two-sport athletes at South Carolina are nothing new. Bruce Ellington was a major contributor to both the football and men’s basketball programs during his time in Columbia, S.C. – and freshman quarterback Brandon McIlwain is currently playing both football and baseball at South Carolina.
Martin’s team posted an impressive 25-9 record last season – narrowly missing the NCAA tournament for the twelfth straight year (the Gamecocks have not won an NCAA tournament game since 1973).
South Carolina’s 2016-17 basketball season kicks off this Sunday against Newberry. Hinson – who is redshirting with the football program – has already been practicing with his Gamecock Hoops’ teammates.
“I saw him play in high school,” Martin said of Hinson. “He’s a pretty good basketball player. He’s got a chance to help us.”
(Banner via Travis Bell Photography)