Jabari Ellis: 'I felt in my heart, that's where I wanted to be'

Former Lake Marion standout Jabari Ellis couldn't turn down the chance to come home.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Ellis, now at Georgia Military College, announced his commitment to South Carolina during a ceremony Tuesday morning.

"Both schools are great programs -- I feel like I could have accomplished my goals at both schools -- so it really came down to which school I was comfortable with and Carolina, I just really felt the love there," Ellis said. "I felt in my heart, that's where I wanted to be."

Ellis, ranked a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, chose the Gamecocks over offers from N.C. State, ECU, Colorado and Georgia State.

Defensive line coach Lance Thompson served as Ellis' recruiter of record.

"Coach (Will) Muschamp, he messaged me every day," Ellis said. "That's my first time seeing that from a head coach, so he always tells me how much he needs me, he needs me, he needs me. Coach Thompson, again, great guy. We probably talked every week. So recruiting, they're really active. I knew the love was there, so that's basically how I made my decision."

South Carolina was the first school to offer the JUCO prospect in February.

Ellis, who will have three seasons to play two, is the Gamecocks' 11th commit of the 2018 class.