2015 power forward Chris Silva has been playing organized basketball for just over three years, and he’s developed into one of the better defensive/rebounding prospects in his class. Friday afternoon the 6-foot-9 Roselle Catholic (New Jersey) senior ended his recruitment, announcing that he’ll be attending South Carolina next year.
Silva was also considering Rhode Island and Seton Hall, having taken visits to all three schools with the Gamecocks getting the last of those three trips. Silva visited Columbia last weekend, attending the school’s football game against Georgia among other activities.
Silva is South Carolina’s first commitment in the Class of 2015, and his combination of defensive ability and a developing offensive skill set (he improved substantially in this area as a junior) fits in well with the players who will be on campus when he arrives. The Gamecocks are led in the front court by Michael Carrera (6.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Mindaugas Kacinas (5.6, 5.1), with Demetrius Henry (4.0, 3.4) and Laimonas Chatkevicius (4.8, 4.1) also factoring into the rotation a season ago.
Three of those four are juniors this season, with Henry entering his sophomore campaign. James Thompson, a 6-foot-9 freshman, will also have eligibility remaining when Silva arrives on campus.