South Carolina target Steven Gilmore excels in state championship
In some ways it will be nearly impossible for Rock Hill (S.C.) South Pointe athlete Steven Gilmore to ever completely outrun of the massive shadow left by his older brother.
But with a three-touchdown performance in South Pointe's 51-28 state title win Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium, Gilmore both produced memories of similar big performances from his older brother, Stephon Gilmore (who needs no introduction), and also continued the process of etching out his own place in school history.
“We had a matchup at corner that we thought we could take advantage of,” South Pointe offensive coordinator Jason McManus told The Herald's Bret McCormick. “One good thing about what we do, it could be anybody’s night and it’s been that way all year. It was just his night and he made some great plays in one-on-one matchups, and his athletic ability took over.”
That athletic ability which features explosiveness and the ability to make defenders miss was on full display Saturday as Gilmore finished with six catches for 135 yards as South Carolina coaches looked on. All three of his touchdowns came in the second quarter as he outscored Hartsville 21-0 during the stretch which included a 54-yard touchdown (highlights below).
"It feels good to win another state championship, a three-peat, we're trying to look for four," Gilmore told Gamecock Central. "Just blessed to be here. I just tried to make plays for my team when they needed it and what happened, happened. I'm just blessed."
Gilmore could play his college ball on the same field as the 5-foot-11, 160-pound three-star prospect has an offer from the Gamecocks and says they're recruiting him the hardest.
"South Carolina [but] it's more teams out there," Gilmore said of the schools recruiting him the hardest." I hope more teams look at me after this game."
Gilmore is being recruited to Carolina by running backs coach Bobby Bentley, who was one of multiple Carolina coaches, including head coach Will Muschamp, on hand Saturday.
"He hits me up," Gilmore said of Bentley. "He's cool. He's a nice person. He tends to the players a lot, so he's cool."
Gilmore last visited USC for their home opener against East Carolina.
"It was a nice atmosphere," Gilmore said. "It's a lot of energy. I like it here."
