South Carolina Basketball: Gamecock commitment playing in state semifinals

South Carolina basketball commitment Hayden Assemian was the Gamecocks' first pledge in the class of 2025. The big power forward is an athletic and strong player down low who has a really solid upside as a player.

Assemian will join the South Carolina basketball program next summer, but before he dons the garnet and black, the big man still has to finish his high school basketball career.

In the South Carolina High School League basketball playoffs, Assemian's Powdersville squad has beaten the odds to advance all the way to the upper state finals (state semifinals). The Patriots knocked off the Union County Yellow Jackets, Daniel Lions, and the Fountain Inn Fury along the way, and Assemian has been a huge part of their success.

Assemian and the starters didn't play much in a blowout over Union County, he scored 16 points just in the 2nd half in the Patriots' 2nd round against Daniel, and in the 3rd round victory over Fountain Inn, Assemian logged 24 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks.

Assemian and the Patriots will play against the Wren Hurricanes for the upper state championship, and the winner of the matchup will face off against the winner of the lower state title game between the Darlington Falcons and Lower Richland Diamond Hornets (Lower Richland is coached by former South Carolina basketball great Jo Jo English). The Powdersville-Wren game will be played on Tuesday.

Earlier this season, Hayden Assemian became the all-time record-holder for both rebounds and blocks at Powdersville High School, and the big man will look to bring that type of inside presence to Columbia next season. As a former football player, Assemian plays with strength and toughness down low, and he will have a chance to get some early playing time with BJ Mack, Stephen Clark, and Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk graduating.