South Carolina reels in first 2018 commit in Jermaine Couisnard

South Carolina kicked off its 2018 class with the commitment of 6-foot-4 shooting guard Jermaine Couisnard on Saturday. A highly competitive and tough-minded senior prospect, Couisnard has been one of the top breakout performers of the high school season, someone that entered the fall months boasting zero scholarship offers.

“They have nice facilities and a nice campus,” Couisnard said. “Their coach, Frank Martin, he is just straight up. He isn’t going to hold anything back.

"Coach Chuck Martin recruited me unlike many of the other coaches and he made me a priority. It was just different and I knew that he genuinely cared about my career."

A native of East Chicago, Ind., Couisnard brings plenty of Midwest toughness, versatility and two-way abilities to the perimeter. Sporting a strong frame and an underrated perimeter skillset, Couisnard has become most valued for his shot-making, playmaking skills, and multi-positional abilities that should make him a perfect fit within Frank Martin’s system in Columbia.

Couisnard continually broke out this winter playing for the Montverde CBD program during his prep year. South Carolina became the first power conference program to offer before Virginia Tech, Louisville, Illinois and a handful of entered the picture.

South Carolina will be losing seniors Wesley Myers and Frank Booker, two of its top guards. Couisnard should be able to help fill some of the void.

The Gamecocks could remain a presence on the recruiting front as they recently made the final list of eleven for five-star senior big man EJ Montgomery.