Show summary Hide summary
Months after stepping away from an NBA career, Chris Paul is now a regular at high school gyms and on college campuses as his son draws growing attention from Division I programs. The latest development: Campbell Hall guard Chris Paul II received an official offer from South Carolina following a recent visit to Columbia with his father.
Paul II, a 6-foot guard in the class of 2028, has moved quickly up recruiting boards after a strong summer on the AAU circuit. Playing for Team CP3 — the program his father runs — he helped reach the Peach Jam 16U title game and has gathered multiple scholarship offers in the months since.
Recruitment accelerating
The offer sheet for Paul II now includes programs from across mid-major and power-conference leagues, a sign that evaluators see a player whose stock is rising rather than just a recognizable surname. Wake Forest, where his father starred for two seasons, is among the schools that have extended offers; the Wake connection ties his recruitment to family history, but new interest from the SEC adds a fresh dimension.
Oklahoma civic engagement: local talks identify clear steps to boost turnout
State Farm agrees to $45 million settlement after Oklahoma roof damage probe
- Offers received: South Carolina (SEC), Wake Forest (ACC), Coastal Carolina, Northern Arizona, UT Arlington
- 2023–24 high school stats (sophomore): 13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists per game at Campbell Hall
- AAU impact: Key contributor for Team CP3; helped reach Peach Jam 16U championship game
Coaches who watched him over the summer have been updating evaluations ever since. Those post-June offers suggest the guard’s on-court growth has translated into serious recruiting interest.
A different recruiting rhythm
Paul’s presence at visits now looks different than it did during his NBA career. No longer balancing an 82-game schedule, the 12-time All-Star retired from the league and joined Campbell Hall’s staff as an assistant coach, placing him on the bench for his son’s junior season and making him an ever-present figure during evaluation periods.
That proximity matters to college staffs. Prospective programs can see how Paul II operates under his father’s coaching and how he performs in competitive settings when coached by someone familiar with the highest levels of the game.
For Paul II, the family name opens doors but does not define his recruiting trajectory. His résumé is beginning to read like one earned on its own merits: steady high school production, a standout summer circuit showing, and interest from both mid-major and power-conference programs.
What this means going forward
The immediate implication is simple: more offers are likely. The guard is entering his junior season, a critical year for recruits who want to shape their college choices before senior-year evaluations intensify.
Longer term, the situation presents two clear possibilities. One, Paul II could follow a family path to a program with legacy ties. Two, he could carve a distinct route based on the recruiting conversations he’s generating now — particularly with schools from stronger conferences showing formal interest.
Either way, the combination of high-level exposure on AAU stages and daily coaching input from a recently retired NBA veteran gives college evaluators new material to assess. Expect recruiting updates to continue as the high school season unfolds.
Key takeaways
- South Carolina’s offer makes Paul II one of the few class-of-2028 guards with early SEC interest.
- Most Division I offers appeared after his summer AAU performances — a rapid development curve.
- With his father now on the high school bench, Paul II’s recruitment will be watched closely and likely accelerate over the next year.
