Will Stevens, a 6-foot-11 center from Davidson Day School (North Carolina), has narrowed his college choices to five schools: Clemson, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Davidson, and St. Mary’s (California).
Stevens plans to visit all five schools this fall and make his college decision before his senior season begins. His Clemson visit is scheduled for late August during the Tigers’ football game against LSU. While a date for his South Carolina visit hasn’t been finalized, it will coincide with a Gamecocks home football game. He visited both programs last fall and attended team practices.
Clemson offered Stevens over a year ago, while South Carolina extended an offer this summer. The Gamecocks currently have one commitment for the 2026 class—guard Isaac Ellis, the younger brother of freshman Eli Ellis. Clemson has not secured any 2026 commitments yet.
Stevens praised both programs. About Clemson, he said:
“I like Coach Bender and how they play through their big men. They let their bigs handle pick-and-roll and make decisions.”
Regarding South Carolina, Stevens noted:
“I like Coach Paris. Even though last season had its challenges, they have a strong program. He communicates well and develops bigs. Plus, I love the SEC atmosphere.”
Stevens listed three main factors influencing his final decision: relationships with coaches, academics, and how each school utilizes big men.
Both South Carolina’s Lamont Paris and Clemson’s Brad Brownell recently watched Stevens compete during the Adidas Palmetto Road Championships in Rock Hill, where he had a standout performance. Playing for Upward Stars SE after switching from the Nike EYBL circuit, Stevens averaged 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and shot 77.8% from the field—including 52.8% from three-point range.
A versatile player, Stevens said he enjoys studying players like Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić:
“I can shoot, I make great decisions, and if I have a mismatch, I’ll take it inside.”
Stevens comes from a basketball background. His mother, Jennifer (Buck) Stevens, played at Texas Tech from 1988 to 1992, appearing in 122 games and averaging 11.5 points per game. Will also played lacrosse before focusing solely on basketball.
At Davidson Day, Stevens led his team to the NC Independent Schools Athletic Association semifinals, finishing his junior season with averages of 12 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks per game.
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