Class of 2028 guard/wing Billy Stanfield III is starting to collect real traction on the recruiting trail after turning heads at Peach Jam and backing it up with a strong summer for Team Melo.
The 6-foot-7, 208-pound Baltimore native has used his length, rebounding and growing skill package to separate himself, and the high-major attention has followed. He said schools are coming at him from multiple directions right now.
“In recent days, I have been hearing from Pittsburgh, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, USC, Oregon, basically most of the programs who have already offered, as well as a few other schools,” said Stanfield III.
West Virginia is the latest program to jump in with an offer, and Stanfield III also plans to visit LSU soon.
What has helped push his profile even higher is the way he produced in U-16 play. Stanfield III was a rebound vacuum for Team Melo and stacked up several double-doubles, including a 19-point, 13-rebound, three-assist outing in a win over the GA Stars. Over the course of Peach Jam, he averaged 15.4 points and 7.4 boards and earned Third Team All Peach Jam honors.
His impact wasn’t limited to scoring. Stanfield III said the biggest part of his summer was showing he can shape games on the other end, too.
“Being a focal point on defense and really impacting all areas of the game,” said Stanfield III of his primary area of focus.
That broader game has become a defining part of his rise, especially as he continues to establish himself as a leader at Calvert Hall (Md.) in the Baltimore Catholic League. The recruiting process is still early, but the attention is already stacking up.
Stanfield III’s father, Billy Stanfield II, has been guiding his development day to day. Billy Stanfield II, once a heavily recruited player out of Baltimore himself, is now Sr. Pastor of Impact Church.
“We’re just honored as a family that all of these schools have been offering our son and expressing interest,” said Stanfield Sr.
“I’m certainly tough on him, but I still want him to be a kid. I have to say he is ahead of schedule.
We continue to work out and do all the things necessary for his development. We’re trying our best as a family to keep the noise down.
Culture and fit are really big factors for us.”
In Other News...
Ole Miss Just Landed A GameDay Guest Picker Fans Will Love
College GameDay is bringing a familiar face to Oxford for the Ole Miss-LSU spotlight, with actor Morgan Freeman set to serve as the celebrity guest picker. Freeman is a longtime Ole Miss fan and local resident, and the announcement lands like a natural fit for a program that has leaned on campus energy and big-game atmosphere all season.
Freeman has long had ties to the university, including past appearances at Ole Miss basketball games, and he recently popped back into the college sports conversation with a viral moment involving Auburn star Johni Broome. His presence adds another layer to an already high-profile broadcast, even before the cameras turn to what he might say when the picks get rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Just Landed A GameDay Moment Fans Will Love
With The Grove set to take center stage for Ole Misss SEC opener against LSU, the Rebels are getting a little extra star power on campus this weekend. ESPNs College GameDay will broadcast from Oxford for the Week 3 matchup, and the atmosphere should already be heavy enough before the first kick with one of the sports best pregame stages serving as the backdrop.
Morgan Freeman will add another layer to it as the guest picker, bringing a familiar face and an unmistakably Ole Miss connection to the show. The actor and longtime Rebels fan will join the hosts and analysts to make his picks during the broadcast, giving Saturdays spotlight a local twist fans will not need much convincing to enjoy. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Walks Into LSU With One Pregame Controversy Hanging Over It
LSUs quarterback situation has added an unexpected edge to a showdown Ole Miss already knew would come with plenty of heat. Sam Leavitt was listed as doubtful on the injury report ahead of the game, and the placement immediately stirred questions around whether the Tigers were dealing with a real setback or playing a longer game against a top SEC opponent.
Inside Ole Miss circles, theres been skepticism about how much of that designation should be taken at face value. The Rebels are preparing for the possibility that this is as much about gamesmanship as health, with Lane Kiffin drawing the kind of pregame mind games that can linger right up until kickoff. Even before the first snap, the matchup already has a feel of one coach trying to get inside the others head. [Read more 🡒]