New favorites for Lamar: USF, Duke and South Carolina

Hillsborough senior running back Lindsey Lamar, the county's rushing champion, said earlier this recruiting season that Wake Forest was his favorite, but other schools have caught his eye so much that he officially turned the Demon Deacons down on Monday, Hillsborough coach Earl Garcia told the Times Wednesday.

"I would say right now its a tie between USF, Duke and South Carolina," Garcia said.

Lamar came away impressed with his official visit to Duke this past weekend. "Their academics are great and they're an up-and-coming program," Lamar said. This week he will make an official visit to South Carolina. Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier visited Hillsborough last Thursday to speak with Lamar.

That day, Spurrier also visited Gaither running back Jarvis Giles, who committed to the Gamecocks on Tuesday.

"I'm just going out there to see what catches my eye and see if that's the right fit for me," said Lamar, who rushed for 1,377 yards on 123 carries as a senior.

Lamar has an official visit to USF planned for this first week in January. On Wednesday, Lamar also turned down Clemson, Garcia said.

Also on the Terriers' recruiting front:

• OT Darrin Baker received an offer from FAU, but his favorite is USF, which has an offer on the table pending his second-semester transcript, Garcia said.
• LB Jared Brisbon received an offer from Iowa State and will likely sign with the Cyclones.
• K/P Evan Colbourne has received interest from several Ivy League schools.

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA