Blake Hinson contemplates following his brother to South Carolina
June 21, 2017
For Blake Hinson, following in his brother’s footsteps from Deltona, Fla., to South Carolina sounds like a good idea.
Evan Hinson was a member of Will Muschamp’s first signing class at South Carolina. Part of the agreement that led the 3-star tight end to Columbia included a promise that he also could join the Gamecocks basketball team.
On occasion last fall, Evan would pop in at Colonial Life Arena for basketball practice, but football was his primary focus, even during the redshirt first season.
After the Birmingham Bowl, South Carolina basketball coach Frank Martin was cleared to take him on full time. Evan played 21 minutes in eight games for the Gamecocks’ Final Four squad, totaling 9 points and 5 rebounds.
Back home, during his sophomore year at Deltona High School, Blake caught 20 passes for 317 yards and 3 touchdowns in football. On the hardwood, he averaged 29.3 points and 9 rebounds per game.
With less than two years to go before it’s time to make a decision, Blake (6-foot-6, 230 pounds) already has a sizeable pool of options from which to choose.
Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas are among the top programs with offers for the 4-star tight end, who’s ranked by 247Sports as the No. 8 prospect at his position in the Class of 2019.
His basketball offers include Boston College, Florida State, Miami, Rutgers, UCF and Virginia Tech.
The Gamecocks might be in the driver’s seat.
“All of the coaches seem cool,” Blake said. “[Tight ends coach] Pat Washington seems cool. Frank Martin, I spoke to him once or twice, he’s an extremely cool guy. So South Carolina, just personally, is one of the model schools that I like.”
There are others that have given him something to think about, including North Carolina, Florida, Michigan, Miami and Florida State. But that’s not the only decision he’ll have to make.
“Most of my schools are recruiting me for both [football and basketball]. … I guess, if I get an opportunity like South Carolina with a good basketball and football program, one of those situations,” Blake said.
He was in Chapel Hill last weekend for football camp with the Tar Heels. This weekend, the Virginia Tech basketball staff will play host.
Blake’s last visit to South Carolina was in the fall for the football game against Western Carolina. He also traveled to Madison Square Garden in New York to see the Gamecocks clinch a berth in the Final Four.
“That was unbelievable,” Blake said. “That was probably the best experience of [Evan’s] college time. A lot of NBA players don’t get to experience that. Just for him to be a part of that, it’s great.”
Big brother has had plenty of good things to say about his first year at South Carolina. According to Blake, Evan thinks highly of Washington, the tight ends coach, so that plays in the Gamecocks’ favor.
“I’ve only met him once or twice, so I don’t really know him personally, but my brother likes him a lot, so I trust his opinion,” Blake said. “I trust that he’s a pretty good guy.”
Style of play will be a factor when it comes time for Blake to decide which route he’s going to take.
“Just the right type of offense, basketball and football,” he said. “I would like to be more spread out in football, not really a pro [style], but more of a spread offense, most of the time, if I was to play football.”
SECCOUNTRY
June 21, 2017
For Blake Hinson, following in his brother’s footsteps from Deltona, Fla., to South Carolina sounds like a good idea.
Evan Hinson was a member of Will Muschamp’s first signing class at South Carolina. Part of the agreement that led the 3-star tight end to Columbia included a promise that he also could join the Gamecocks basketball team.
On occasion last fall, Evan would pop in at Colonial Life Arena for basketball practice, but football was his primary focus, even during the redshirt first season.
After the Birmingham Bowl, South Carolina basketball coach Frank Martin was cleared to take him on full time. Evan played 21 minutes in eight games for the Gamecocks’ Final Four squad, totaling 9 points and 5 rebounds.
Back home, during his sophomore year at Deltona High School, Blake caught 20 passes for 317 yards and 3 touchdowns in football. On the hardwood, he averaged 29.3 points and 9 rebounds per game.
With less than two years to go before it’s time to make a decision, Blake (6-foot-6, 230 pounds) already has a sizeable pool of options from which to choose.
Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas are among the top programs with offers for the 4-star tight end, who’s ranked by 247Sports as the No. 8 prospect at his position in the Class of 2019.
His basketball offers include Boston College, Florida State, Miami, Rutgers, UCF and Virginia Tech.
The Gamecocks might be in the driver’s seat.
“All of the coaches seem cool,” Blake said. “[Tight ends coach] Pat Washington seems cool. Frank Martin, I spoke to him once or twice, he’s an extremely cool guy. So South Carolina, just personally, is one of the model schools that I like.”
There are others that have given him something to think about, including North Carolina, Florida, Michigan, Miami and Florida State. But that’s not the only decision he’ll have to make.
“Most of my schools are recruiting me for both [football and basketball]. … I guess, if I get an opportunity like South Carolina with a good basketball and football program, one of those situations,” Blake said.
He was in Chapel Hill last weekend for football camp with the Tar Heels. This weekend, the Virginia Tech basketball staff will play host.
Blake’s last visit to South Carolina was in the fall for the football game against Western Carolina. He also traveled to Madison Square Garden in New York to see the Gamecocks clinch a berth in the Final Four.
“That was unbelievable,” Blake said. “That was probably the best experience of [Evan’s] college time. A lot of NBA players don’t get to experience that. Just for him to be a part of that, it’s great.”
Big brother has had plenty of good things to say about his first year at South Carolina. According to Blake, Evan thinks highly of Washington, the tight ends coach, so that plays in the Gamecocks’ favor.
“I’ve only met him once or twice, so I don’t really know him personally, but my brother likes him a lot, so I trust his opinion,” Blake said. “I trust that he’s a pretty good guy.”
Style of play will be a factor when it comes time for Blake to decide which route he’s going to take.
“Just the right type of offense, basketball and football,” he said. “I would like to be more spread out in football, not really a pro [style], but more of a spread offense, most of the time, if I was to play football.”
SECCOUNTRY
