In-state basketball prospect locks in official visit date with Gamecocks

Elijah Crawford is getting closer to making his college decision and South Carolina definitely will get a shot at landing him.

The Legacy Early College Class of 2024 guard said Wednesday he plans to take an official visit to the Gamecocks next month. He had originally planned to do his visit in June.

“It is been pretty much the same. They let me know I am a priority,” Crawford said Wednesday at NIKE EYBL Peach Jam event. “I like their program. They let their guards go and they are building and taking positive steps forward. And maybe by my time when I am ready to decide, they will be a really good team.”

South Carolina will be the second official visit for Crawford. His other official visit was to Boston College last month. He also is hearing from LSU, Seton Hall, Creighton and Mississippi State.

Crawford doesn’t have an exact timeline for a decision, but hopes to make his choice sometime in the fall. He has a few determining factors that will go into his decision.

“The fit and the coaching staff,” Crawford said. “I just want to go to a place that best fits my game.”

Crawford is one of three guards with SC ties that Lamont Paris has been recruiting. Lexington’s Cam Scott is top priority on the list along with top 100 prospect KJ Greene, who is from Columbia area but plays at Pace Academy in Georgia.

247Sports has Scott is the top-ranked prospect in SC with Crawford at No. 2. The two have talked about playing in college together.

“Me and Cam talk all the time about maybe hooking up and playing on the next level,” Crawford said.

Crawford began his high school career at Augusta Christian but transferred to Legacy Charter in Greenville last season, when he played alongside Michigan State signee Coen Carr.

Crawford is playing on the AAU circuit for Team Thad based out of Tennessee. He is averaging 7 points a game in three games so far at Peach Jam event in North Augusta.

In the spring, Crawford played for The Skill Factory and averaged 20 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists. He was named The Circuit’s Breakout Player for the second session of the NIKE EYBL.