ROSELLE, N.J. — Chris Silva is headed to the SEC.
The 6-foot-9 power forward from Gabon, Africa and Roselle (N.J.) Catholic committed to South Carolina on Friday, choosing the Gamecocks over Rhode Island and local option Seton Hall.
“I have decided that next year I will go play basketball at one school, South Carolina,” he said as he put on a Gamecocks hat on his 18th birthday.
The announcement came after Silva took an official visit to the SEC school that made quite an impression on him and one day after Silva met with South Carolina coach Frank Martin.
“What he really wanted was to play against the best people in the country, not only in games but day in and day out in practice and I think he felt as though South Carolina gave him the best opportunity to do that, with the SEC schedule, the daily competition in practice, he felt like that would be a good fit,” RC coach Dave Boff told SNY.tv
“Chris is going to be a great college player,” Boff added. “His athletic ability really translates well to the next level and he is continuing to develop his post and perimeter skills which should make him a tough match-up in college.”
“Chris’s upside is scary,” Sports U coach Brian Coleman told SNY.tv. “He can handle a lot better than people know. His outside shot has improved so much over the summer. He also has a high motor. He’s a college coach’s dream, a 6-9 freak athlete with a high motor and a steadily improving skill set. Scary.”
Silva averaged 8.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks last season at Roselle Catholic, which won their second straight Non-Public B title and qualified for the Tournament of Champions.
With a team featuring Silva, uncommitted senior guard Isaiah Briscoe and sophomore guard Asante Gist, they will be the favorites to win the TOC this season.
Martin spoke generally about the importance of recruiting the New York/New Jersey area earlier Friday at the Brayden Carr Foundation Clinic at Fairleigh Dickinson.
“I can speak about K-State, we had six guys on our roster from this pocket up here,” Martin told SNY.tv. “It’s one of the reasons I took the South Carolina job. In South Carolina in its heyday, all of their players were from up here so it’s an important area for us.”
