Looking for a bracket buster for the next couple of years? Try Winthrop. The South Carolina based program made it to the Big Dance last year and head coach Gregg Marshall is recruiting players to help the Eagles get back to the game's biggest stage. On Sunday, they landed a verbal commitment from a player that should help them make some noise in the post season. South Carolina native Byron Faison is headed to Winthrop.

After a strong start to the AAU season in the spring with the S.C. Ravens, Faison saw several high-majors peek at him during the evaluation period. Teams like Stanford, Auburn and South Carolina were in the mix but Winthrop was there throughout the process and that was the kicker for the Big South school.

"I think I've always wanted to go there," Faison said. "I went there this past weekend for a visit and that pretty much put them over the top for me. Everybody there was great. The students there even knew who I was. That took me by surprise."

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound combo guard from Crestwood High School in Sumter, S.C. also considered offers from Jacksonville and Wofford. Faison is very familiar with Winthrop. He's attended their camps for the last couple of years and with the campus just an hour and a half away, he's excited about the opportunity of playing close to home. Now he's hoping to help push the Eagles deep into March.

"They've always gone to the NCAA tournament and have been conference champs. Now they want to get to the Sweet 16," Faison said. "I think they are getting the players to help them do that. I want to get in there and earn my chance to play early and help them do that."