In three short years, Chris Silva went from a basketball neophyte to a rapidly improving prospect headed to the SEC, one of the nation’s elite conferences.
A native of Gabon, West Africa, basketball was new to Silva. He didn’t know how to check in and check out of a game or where to stand at the free-throw line. But he took to it quickly, winning a state championship with Roselle Catholic (N.J.) last winter and on Sunday he verbally committed to South Carolina, spurning finalists Seton Hall and Rhode Island.
“That’s a great school, great coaches,” Silva said during a press conference. “I like everything about it, the education, the support they give to players after their career — everything.”
Silva averaged 10 points, eight rebounds and 2.5 blocks to help Roselle Catholic win the NJSIAA Non-Public B title last winter and had a big AAU spring and summer with the New Jersey Roadrunners. A three-star recruit, he recently broke into the national rankings kept by Rivals.com and ESPN.
“He has great upside,” one college coach familiar with Silva said.
Seton Hall was seen as the favorite until just recently, when the Gamecocks and head coach Frank Martin won him over with a furious push. He took an official visit to the SEC school last weekend, where he took in South Carolina’s upset of Georgia in front of 84,232 — an electric atmosphere that would sway most kids — and Martin visited with Silva on Thursday night, delivering a last-second pitch.
“He was very impressed with the school and facilities and what he thought South Carolina could do for his game,” Roselle Catholic coach Dave Boff said. “The competition of the SEC, playing in a league like that day in and day out, was a deciding factor.”
It’s a significant local loss for the Pirates, who built their top 10 recruiting class in 2014 on New York City and New Jersey products. Silva is the third big man from the area to pass on Seton Hall, joining Queens’ Jessie Govan, who has committed to Georgetown, and Jonathan Nwankwo of The Bronx pledged to Minnesota. Furthermore, having a commitment from Silva would have helped with his teammate, Isaiah Briscoe, who some consider the best point guard in this year’s recruiting class.
Briscoe, who’s being courted by locals St. John’s, Rutgers and Seton Hall, met with Kentucky coach John Calipari on Thursday night. A scholarship offer wasn’t extended, but one is expected when he takes an official visit to Kentucky sometime in the near future. Briscoe has an in-home visit with St. John’s coach Steve Lavin set for Monday.
Top 20 forward Thomas Bryant of Rochester, N.Y., and West Huntington Prep (W.Va.) is taking an official visit to Syracuse this weekend. Missouri, Indiana, Ohio State and Kansas are also in the mix.
Towson head coach Pat Skerry and Duquesne’s Jim Ferry were at Tottenville High School on Tuesday to see senior forward Nakye Sanders.
St. John’s assistants Tony Chiles and Rico Hines were at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas on Wednesday to meet with JUCO combo forward Deshawn Freeman. St. John’s plays host to JUCO guard Tanksley Efianayi of Daytona State (Fla.) this weekend on an official visit.
Lavin met with Louisiana shooting guard Brandon Sampson on Friday. The top 50 recruit, who also is considering USC, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, California and LSU, will visit St. John’s the weekend of Oct. 17 and attend the school’s Midnight Madness event.
Consensus top 10 recruit Cheick Diallo of Our Savior New American on Long Island is also expected to take his official visit that weekend. Diallo has an in-home visit with Calipari on Thursday and visits Kansas this weekend.
St. Raymond sophomore wing Sidney Wilson landed a scholarship offer from St. John’s on Wednesday and one from Minnesota on Thursday, while Queens guard Travis Atson of South Kent (Conn.) added offers from Boston University and Binghamton.
Thurgood Marshall sophomore forward Bryan Assie picked up scholarship offers from Niagara, St. Francis and Fairfield on Wednesday.