Two transfers — South Carolina's Devin Carter and La Salle's Clifton Moore Jr. — commit to PC

Bill Koch, The Providence Journal
·3 min read

Providence celebrated its Easter weekend by reeling in a pair of transfer recruits on Sunday.

South Carolina guard Devin Carter drives to the basket during a game last month against Auburn. On Sunday, he committed to PC.
South Carolina guard Devin Carter drives to the basket during a game last month against Auburn. On Sunday, he committed to PC.

South Carolina shooting guard Devin Carter and La Salle big man Clifton Moore Jr. both committed to the Friars after taking official visits. Ed Cooley — with some help from assistant coach Ivan Thomas — continues to reload coming off the first Sweet 16 appearance for the program since 1997.

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Carter was a former top-100 prospect who listed Providence, Big East rival Connecticut, Arkansas, Oregon, LSU and UNLV in his final six. He retains three seasons of eligibility after leaving the Gamecocks, who fired coach Frank Martin at the close of the 2021-22 campaign. Carter is a Miami native who prepped at Brewster Academy and the son of former NBA guard Anthony Carter.

Moore will exercise his blanket COVID-19 waiver to play a fifth college season. He’s spent two apiece with Indiana and La Salle, who fired coach Ashley Howard at the close of last year. Moore was a four-star recruit out of Pennsylvania who had offers from the likes of Kansas State, Boston College, Ole Miss, St. John’s and Northwestern before committing to the Hoosiers.

Carter started seven of his 30 games for South Carolina, averaging 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds. He showed an elite ability to reach the free throw line — 6.6 fouls drawn per 40 minutes was a top-20 mark nationally. The 6-foot-3 guard also cracked the national rankings in assist rate and steal percentage.

La Salle forward Clifton Moore gets off a shot during a game in March against Saint Joseph's. Moore will spend his final year of eligibility with the Friars.
La Salle forward Clifton Moore gets off a shot during a game in March against Saint Joseph's. Moore will spend his final year of eligibility with the Friars.

Moore started all 30 games for the Explorers, totaling five double-doubles and blocking at least three shots in nine of his final 14 contests. The 6-foot-10 bruiser ranked in the top 30 nationally in block percentage, swatting 10.2% of opposing 2-pointers while on the floor. His best effort came in a January home loss against VCU when he had 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting, 12 boards, three assists, three blocks and four steals in 35 minutes.

The Friars used personal connections to help convince Carter and Moore to make their respective decisions. Justin Minaya spent four years at South Carolina prior to his lone season with Providence. Al Durham was a teammate of Moore’s for two seasons at Indiana and current Friars big man Ed Croswell spent his first two seasons at La Salle before transferring.

Cooley now has some veteran depth to go along with incoming freshman guards Jayden Pierre and Quante Berry. Providence’s first transfer recruit committed on Friday, as Noah Locke pledged to the Friars after spending three years at Florida and a lone season at Louisville. He’s a wing shooter and former top-100 prospect.

Providence still holds a pair of open scholarships and has been in contact with a host of other potential targets. Kentucky wing Bryce Hopkins and Huskies point guard Corey Floyd Jr. were both four-star recruits and would make strong additions. The Friars have also reportedly been in contact with Virginia Tech shooting guard Naheim Alleyne.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: South Carolina shooting guard Devin Carter and La Salle big man Clifton Moore Jr. both commit to the Friars