One of the huge surprises on Wednesday’s early national signing day was Maryland flipping four-star linebacker Jaishawn Barham of St. Frances Academy (MD) from South Carolina.
However, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer, the son of Virginia Tech legendary coach Frank Beamer, was not surprised at all by Barham’s decision.
Speaking to the media Wednesday, Beamer explained how he believed Barham’s verbal commitment to the Gamecocks was part of a plan.
“I know — I can’t say that it’s a surprise,” Beamer said per Will Backus of 247 Sports. “When this particular young man committed on Saturday, about 10 minutes later I got a phone call from somebody in the know up there that said ‘Just so you know, it’s all part of the plan. He’s going to flip on Wednesday and go to Maryland.’ So I can’t sit here and say that I was shocked.”
Essentially Beamer knew immediately after Barham told the Gamecocks coach he was coming to South Carolina that the commitment wouldn’t stick. However, Barham contacted Beamer again Tuesday evening to assure he was coming to him.
“When you’re on the phone with a young man as recent, as late as 10:30, 11 o’clock last night and he and the mom are telling you how they’re so thankful they found a home — how appreciative they are of how we do things, how they knew that South Carolina was the place for him on his very first visit to South Carolina and how excited they are for the future, you feel pretty good about things,” Beamer continued.
Beamer admitted “some strange things happened” after that phone conversation overnight that tipped the hand back to Maryland.
Nevertheless, Barham is headed to Maryland. He is one of four commitments the Terrapins landed from the top-10 recruits in the state.
Barham is the No. 8 linebacker in the nation, according to 247Sports, and the Terrapins’ top-rated recruit. He would have been South Carolina’s top recruit as well.
Maryland’s 2022 class is ranked 28th in the nation. Beamer didn’t come off too bad without Barham. The Gamecocks have the 23rd ranked class.
