Hakeem Flowers names decision date, not choice

Wade Hampton (Greenville) wide receiver Hakeem Flowers has set a time and date for when he'll publicly make his college choice, but he hasn't named a favorite yet.

Flowers will announce his choice at 7:15 p.m. on Jan. 23 at his school, he told PalmettoSports.com. While Flowers didn't name one school as a favorite, he did list Oregon, LSU and Michigan as his top three.

South Carolina All-Region Football Teams

LATEEK TOWNSEND NAMES HIS CHOICE, AND IT'S CLEMSON
The Clemson Tigers picked up one of the top recruits in the state over the weekend when Marlboro County linebacker Lateek Townsend chose the Tigers over South Carolina and LSU.



Townsend made the decision during the broadcast of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and on national TV. With the three hats lined up on a table, Townsend thanked a lot of people during a quick speech and then picked up the orange hat and stuck it on his head.

"I just hope he doesn't waver back and forth and sticks with his commitment," his high school coach, Dean Boyd, told the Florence Morning News. "He had been strong with Clemson all along. It's a good move for him. Either (Clemson or USC) would have been a good choice."

Townsend finished the season with 134 tackles and 11 sacks. He also played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, where he had four tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry and 71 all-purpose yards, mostly as a running back.

CROCKER RESIGNS AS MANN'S WINNINGEST COACH
With 77 wins in 13 seasons, Mickey Crocker is the winningest coach at Mann (Greenville). Now, the school is looking for a new coach.

Crocker resigned last week, telling the Greenville News that "It's time for me to move on. I look forward to possibly some new challenges. I'm going to step back for the next month or so and breathe a little bit."

The Patriots, who were 77-70 in Crocker's tenure, were 5-7 last season and were knocked out in the first round of the 4A Div. II playoffs. During his tenure, the Patriots went to the playoffs 12 of 13 seasons.



He was the offensive coordinator on Fairfield Central's back-to-back state championship teams in 1996 and 1997 before taking over at J.L. Mann.

GOLSON GOING TO LOUISVILLE
Last year, Calhoun County linebacker Brandon Golson signed with the South Carolina Gamecocks. Now, he has enrolled at Louisville, according to PalmettoSports.com.

Golson was expected to join the Gamecocks after spending the fall at Fork Union Military Academy.

As a senior in high school, Golson recorded 113 tackles, 30 sacks and four forced fumbles and was named to the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl.

According to PalmettoSports.com, "Golson is NCAA qualified but apparently doesn't meet some USC criteria."
He took an unofficial visit to Louisville last week after an official visit to Miami.

JEFFERY SCORES IN ALL-STAR GAME
Calhoun County wide receiver Shamier Jeffery was the lone South Carolina player to score in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl, as his West team downed the East 35-21.



Jeffery, the South Carolina commitment who is the younger brother of the Gamecocks' standout receiver Alshon, nabbed a 16-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.

Scott's Branch tight end Jerrell Adams had one catch for 13 yards and Lake City tailback Shon Carson ran six times for two yards.

Jason Gilmer is an award-winning writer who has covered football in South Carolina for more than a decade. He does a statewide high school football blog on GoUpstate.com. You can reach him at palmettofootballtalkblog@gmail.com.