McCloud visits Carolina

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As a Rock Hill (S.C.) South Pointe standout with connections to former South Carolina standouts like Stephon Gilmore and DeVonte Holloman, class of 2016 defensive back Nick McCloud is plenty familiar with the Gamecocks' program.

But that didn't stop the 6-foot-2, 170-pound McCloud, who last visited during the season, from making the short trip to Columbia to check out the school again on Friday.

"We went down there with two of my boys from Chicago. They came down because I was up there for a camp and we all kind of did good at that camp (and became friends)," McCloud said. "One of the boys (Naquan Jones) actually got offered by South Carolina. We just went down there and toured everything, the facilities, campus, the new in-door stuff, everything."

"It was a good visit," McCloud added. "I got to see a lot of people that I already knew."

McCloud says he spent time on the visit with Holloman, who's currently a graduate assistant, and running backs coach Everette Sands who is recruiting Jones due to a prior connection.

"(Sands) was more explaining to the kids from Chicago because I go down there a lot, so he was basically explaining a lot to them, because I already knew a lot about the school, about the facilities and everything," McCloud said.

McCloud is being recruited by Lorenzo Ward.

"I like Coach Ward," McCloud said. "I've known him for a long time. He's always been fine with me and my dad. We've got a good relationship."

Could the Gamecocks offer?

"I think it could happen soon, but I really don't know when," McCloud said. "I think it could happen any time."

McCloud holds an early offer from Appalachian State but is also receiving heavy interest from Louisville, Wake Forest, Tennessee and Northwestern.

McCloud believes that Wake Forest and Northwestern are the closest to offering. He's already visited both.

"When I went up to Wake Forest, it was the last week of camp, and I liked it a lot up there," McCloud said. "Zeek (Rodney) went there and he says a lot of good things about it. Northwestern, it's just a different kind of school, being in Chicago. I liked it too."

McCloud hopes to visit Wake Forest for the Demon Deacons' junior day on Feb. 28.