That 5-star feeling! Elite recruit Nyckoles Harbor picks South Carolina
The biggest recruiting moment of the Shane Beamer era is here.
Five-star athlete Nyckoles Harbor announced his commitment to South Carolina on Wednesday over finalists Oregon, Michigan, Maryland and Miami in a ceremony at Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C. The Gamecocks confirmed Harbor as an official signee shortly after his decision was revealed.
“It is an amazing program,” Harbor said in making his announcement on ESPN. “Coach Beamer doing something different there and I want to be a part of that. Beamer Ball is going to be great.”
Harbor is the first five-star commitment for the Gamecocks since Beamer took over as head coach in December 2020. He is the No. 19 player overall and No. 1 athlete in the 2023 class, per the 247Sports Composite.
“We’re looking forward, and the recruiting class that he’s already put in, and just me being a final piece to that,” Harbor told ESPN. “It’s just a great family there. It feels that I’m right there at home and that’s the best place for me.
“You want to go where your heart is at and make everything work. In three or four years, y’all are gonna see me in the NFL draft and I will be the No. 1 overall pick and that’s why I’m committing there.”
Harbor is also the fifth-highest rated recruit to commit to South Carolina since 2010 — trailing only Jadeveon Clowney, Marcus Lattimore, Zacch Pickens and Jordan Burch.
The two-sport standout has aspirations of running track at the Olympic level and is also expected to compete for the South Carolina track and field team. On the football side, it was thought that Harbor could play either tight end or defensive end, though it’s anticipated he’ll stick on offense and most likely as a wide receiver.
“The game plan is, I’ve been doing it for the last four years balancing track and field, so it’s not that hard,” Harbor said.
Harbor is the first five-star recruit to commit to South Carolina since Burch did so in the 2020 class. He’s also one of four players ranked in the top 150 of the 2023 or 2024 class to pledge to the Gamecocks in the last 10 days following commitments from 2024 prospects offensive tackle Kam Pringle (No. 46 overall), linebacker Wendell Gregory (No. 130 overall) and tight end Michael Smith (No. 134 overall).
Following his signing ceremony, Harbor told The State he plans to play receiver at the college level, including lining up in the slot. That said, it’s possible he plays some tight end and, theoretically, some defensive end, if need be.
“I kind of (think of it like) those that may have coached LeBron (James) or coached Kobe (Bryant) in high school — being able to have that kid that’s so elite and so above the rest,” Archbishop Carroll head coach Robert Harris told The State. “And then to be so large in stature — from wingspan, catch radius to length and height. I’ve never seen that in football in my lifetime.”
USC 2023 class by position
OFFENSE (14)
Quarterback (1): LaNorris Sellers
Running Back (1): Dontavious Braswell
Wide Receiver (5): CJ Adams, Nyckoles Harbor, Kelton Henderson, Tyshawn Russell, Elijah Caldwell
Tight End (3): Connor Cox, Reid Mikeska, Kamron Sandlin
Offensive Line (4): Markee Anderson, Oluwatosin Babalade, Trovon Baugh, Jatavius Shivers
DEFENSE (10)
Defensive Line (2): Elijah Davis, Xzavier McLeod
Edge (2): Monteque Rhames II, Desmond Umeolzulu
Linebacker (1): Grayson Howard
Defensive Back (5): Judge Collier, Jalon Kilgore, Zahbari Sandy, Vicari Swain, Cam Upshaw
