Nyckoles Harbor arrives at South Carolina
Nyckoles Harbor, the five-star South Carolina signee and two-sport sensation, arrived on campus over the weekend and is set to go through freshman orientation on Tuesday, GamecockCentral has learned.
The Washington (D.C.) Archbishop Carroll standout is among several other members of South Carolina’s 2023 recruiting class who are arriving in Columbia this week.
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The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder, who was a viral sensation in high school due to the Olympic hopeful’s amazing track feats, is set to both play football and run track for the Gamecocks.
Harbor famously chose South Carolina on ESPN in February over Oregon, Maryland, Michigan, and Miami, giving Shane Beamer and Co. one of the biggest recruiting wins of his tenure.
“Why South Carolina? It’s the place that feels like home to me and I’m happy about that,” Harbor told media members shortly after announcing for the Gamecocks during a ceremony at his school. “If I can go somewhere that feels like home, I’m going to go and pursue my dreams there. Because no matter where I go, I’ve got to (be the) No. 1 pick, I’ve got to (go to the) Olympics, and I’m going to get there wherever I go. If I can feel happy there then that’s better, because the happier I am the better I am. That just helps me.”
Due to his tremendous following and potential in track and five-star label in football, Harbor will instantly be one of the most easily recognized humans on campus.
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Starring at both defensive end and tight end as a senior in high school, Harbor was named the co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Metro Division while adding 15 receptions for 439 yards and five touchdowns on offense.
At South Carolina he’s set to transition to wide receiver.
“The fact that the summertime, he’ll get there in June and have almost two months of development before we actually start practice,” Beamer said in the spring. “And Justin Stepp and our offensive coaches will be able to really work with him individually and directly from a mental and physical standpoint, get ready for practice, which is something that we weren’t able to do in recent years. So between all of that, get him out there, and again, we never wanna do anything with a player that he can’t do, but Nyck is really athletic and instinctive, and he’ll be fine making that transition.”
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In track, Harbor will be coached by veteran track and field coach Curtis Frye, who will look to mold his limitless potential into an Olympic run.
Harbor has recorded times of 6.64 seconds in the 60 meters, 10.22 in the 100m, and 20.63 in the 200m on the track.
“This is one with the potential of a lifetime,” Frye said at a press conference after Harbor signed. “It took 30 between (Usian) Bolt and Carl Lewis. It didn’t take 30 years to see this guy. I don’t think anybody in this room or on the hotness of the internet, I don’t think they get it.”
“This guy is generational,” he added. “Every once and a while you run into an opportunity to coach a generational guy. I want to coach a generational guy.”
He’ll now get that chance.
