Shi Smith to South Carolina: Gamecocks Land 4-Star Athlete Prospect

Highly touted athlete Shi Smith made his collegiate decision Saturday, as the South Carolina native announced his commitment to the South Carolina Gamecocks.

He made his commitment official with the following tweet:

"

Committed ❤️ #SpursUp pic.twitter.com/jjtc3k0y2n

— 1K️ (@Check1_) June 11, 2016"

Smith is a 4-star recruit who ranks as the No. 14 athlete, No. 2 player from South Carolina and No. 244 prospect overall in the class of 2017, according to 247Sports.

The Union County High School standout received multiple scholarship offers during his recruitment, including strong pitches from South Carolina, Clemson and Alabama, per 247Sports.

While he certainly had a difficult choice on his hands, he admitted in February that the Gamecocks offered an enticing situation thanks to head coach Will Muschamp's commitment to putting him in situations to succeed, according to to Phil Kornblut of the State:

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I talked to Coach Muschamp and he said he wants me to say in state and the players they've gotten in state have made Carolina better. I've been to Carolina a lot of times and I've seen about everything there is to be shown. We were in Coach Muschamp's office and he showed me how they would use me, a sweep guy inside and outside. He said they would get me matched up with the worst [defensive back] on the field.

"

Smith has been utilized all over the field in high school and will likely continue to be deployed that way in college, but wide receiver figures to be his primary position.

He is a big play waiting to happen, as evidenced by his 50 receptions for 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior, per Kornblut, and that is primarily what made him such a highly sought-after recruit.

Matt Connolly of the State made reference to Smith's ability to be a game-changer following his commitment:

According to 247Sports, he is somewhat diminutive at 5'9 ½" and 175 pounds, but he makes up for what he lacks in height with blazing 4.40-second speed in the 40-yard dash.

Smith's speed and quickness have set him apart from his peers at the high school level, and while the speed of the game will increase exponentially in college, he still figures to be elite in that particular area.

The do-everything athlete is a threat to go to the house every time he has the ball in his hands, and his commitment represents a major coup for South Carolina because of his game-breaking ability.

While refinement in terms of route running and an even better overall understanding of the wide receiver position could help take Smith to the next level, he will have a chance to make an instant impact based solely on his remarkable physical tools.  

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