Gamecocks Basketball in the Mix for Five-Star Guard Martay Barnes
The South Carolina football program made a strong impression on Rocket Sanders — and now the Gamecocks basketball team is hoping to do the same with his younger brother.
USC head coach Lamont Paris and his staff are actively recruiting Martay Barnes, a five-star guard in the Class of 2027 from the Academy of Central Florida. The Gamecocks were one of the first programs to offer Barnes once college coaches were allowed to contact rising juniors on June 15.
Since then, Barnes’ recruitment has surged. He’s picked up offers from Kansas, Indiana, Providence, and Ole Miss this summer, along with interest from blue bloods like Kentucky, Michigan, Baylor, Miami, and Georgia. Before the latest wave, Barnes already held offers from Florida State, South Florida, Mississippi State, and Central Florida.
“Since June 15, it has really been blowing up,” Barnes said Thursday at the adidas 3SSB Palmetto Road Championships in Rock Hill. “I’ve been killing it since the live period started, and the offers have just kept coming.”
Paris was courtside Thursday to watch Barnes lead Austin Rivers SE Elite against Tennessee Impact, showing consistent interest in the rising star. That connection extends beyond the court. Barnes previously visited South Carolina to watch his brother Rocket Sanders — a former Arkansas standout — play running back for the Gamecocks during his final college season. Sanders led USC in rushing with 881 yards and 13 total touchdowns before signing an NFL free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.
“He said South Carolina felt like home, so it felt like home to me too when I was there,” Barnes said. “Coach Paris has been in contact with me a lot. He’s front and center at our games and always shows the most love. I love the culture there, the defense they play, and the coaching staff.”
Barnes confirmed that South Carolina will be among the schools he takes official visits to this fall.
Ranked a five-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite and the No. 1 combo guard in his class by On3, Barnes stands 6-foot-3 and brings a well-rounded skill set to the court. He began his high school career at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (FL), where he averaged 17.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.4 steals as a freshman. He transferred to the Academy of Central Florida last season, helping lead the team to 19 wins and turning heads during the DMV Live event in Washington, D.C.
In January, he surpassed 1,000 career points — a milestone for a player only entering his junior year. On the AAU circuit this summer, he’s averaging 14.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He dropped 16 points in a win over Tennessee Impact as SE Elite aims for its second consecutive adidas 3SSB Boys Palmetto Road Championship.
“I’m an all-around point guard,” Barnes said. “I can shoot, pass, defend, get my teammates open — and I love to win.”
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