Lester starting to make name for himself

Shawn Lester recently was ranked in Scout.com’s top 75 for the 2012 class, and the guard is starting to take it all in. Gamecock Anthem caught up with Lester recently to talk about his recruitment.

Some kids are all about the recruiting process as they think schools have to court them. And others, they take everything in stride as they are humbled by the experience.

Shawn Lester fits the bill of the latter and is really starting to just understand the process with the turn of the summer.

“It’s been wild,” Lester said of his recruitment. “On that calling day (June 15), I was getting calls every day. (Coaches) have been calling every day.”

Recently, Lester was ranked as the 75th overall prospect in the class, but the 6-foot-3 combo guard isn’t looking too much into it.

“I haven’t really looked at (the rankings)” he said. “But my friends have been telling me about it, and it feels good.”

The schools that have taken notice and show considerable interest are South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Miami, Charlotte and Clemson according to Lester.

No schools have offered him yet, but South Carolina and Clemson are the two schools he mentioned wanting visits from the talented guard from Mooresville, N.C., he said.

However, Lester admits to liking the Gamecocks early with the relationship he’s formed with the coaches.

“We’ve been talking a lot,” he said. “They want me to come down there for a visit and watch a game. I like them a lot.”

One advantage South Carolina might have over other schools is the relationship Lester formed with one of its players at Dave Telep’s Carolina Challenge in March.

“We had Lakeem Jackson coaching us and helping us,” Lester said. “He was telling us what we need to do and what I wasn’t doing. I look up to him.”

Jackson, being a former standout in North Carolina, was coaching Lester’s team at the event as an assistant coach under his former high School coach at Christ School, David Gaines.

Lester excited Jackson and other South Carolina players on hand with dazzling plays, so it was natural for Jackson to take the rising junior under his wing.

“He’s a good player, he’s a good person too,” Lester said of Jackson. “He was helping me a lot.”

Lester, who also plays football, will cut back on some of his AAU load to prepare for his year on the grid iron.