South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris has four players committed to the Gamecocks in the class of 2025. One of those commitments, Washington DC wing Grant Polk, is flying up the recruiting rankings. In the latest update from On3, Polk moved from being an unranked prospect to a spot inside the top 150.
Polk, who committed to the South Carolina basketball program back in October, is No. 148 nationally in On3’s rankings. He also is No. 5 in the talent-rich DC area and No. 27 nationally among small forwards. Those rankings put Grant Polk just shy of 4-star territory as he owns an 89 rating.
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It is easy to see why On3 is high on the future Gamecock. Listed at 6’6″ and 185 pounds, Polk is a sharpshooter from the perimeter. With his combination of size and outside touch, he can play alongside any other wings. Fellow 6’6″ deadeye Myles Stute will be out of eligibility for the Gamecocks after this season, so a player like Polk could help fill a similar role in the 2025-2026 offense (though, not likely immediately as a starter like Stute).
While catch-and-shoot situations are Polk’s favorite, he can do a little more on the offensive end of the floor. He’s not afraid to shoot off the dribble, and he has a knack for getting his feet underneath him to get clean shots. If a defense closes out too aggressively because of his threat as a shooter, he is capable of putting the ball on the floor and making some things happen, too.
Positionally, Polk is a small forward according to On3. However, the sharpshooting wing can play shooting guard, as well. With his height, if he adds some weight at the college level, small-ball minutes at the power forward spot don’t seem out of the realm of possibility; Lamont Paris has used both Myles Stute and Zach Davis in that role at times in the past.
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This summer, Polk posted the top scoring efficiency numbers among all players in the Adidas 3Stripes Basketball Circuit. He also showed enough this summer to draw interest from other major programs like Virginia Tech and Seton Hall. His confidence in his shot is apparent, and if he knocks them down in Columbia at a similar clip to what he has done during his prep career, he could become a great one for the South Carolina basketball program.
Polk is one of four Gamecock pledges in the class of 2025. Dynamic scoring guard Eli Ellis (who also is inside the On3 top 150), athletic forward Hayden Assemian, and versatile forward EJ Walker make up the rest of the class. South Carolina basketball ranks 45th nationally in On3’s Industry Team Rankings.
