6’7” 2019 Marlow Gilmore is good for at least one “Oh My Gracious” moment per half. The long and incredibly bounce lefty has jaw-dropping type athleticism that has him finishing furiously above the rim or pinning a shot at the top of the square, regularly.
This explosion, this incredible pop in his game is what opens eyes about Gilmore, these plays. But what gets him on the floor at the next level is his ability to defend. Out of the gate, Gilmore is a three position defensive stopper. With his length and quick twitch athleticism, you also don’t have to worry about him switching onto the point guard on pick and rolls.
Gilmore burst onto the scene at the 2017 South Carolina top 80 exposure camp. He impressed immediately winning as he was unanimously voted the Mr. Defense award. We wrote, “The Mr. Defense winner has unlimited upside and is the type of piece that every team needs in order to have true success. He’s long and fearless, which makes for a scary sight on the defensive end; he went after every single block, rebound, and loose ball available. Gilmore’s athleticism and length make him extremely versatile and able to defend at least three positions comfortably on defense—an extremely valuable skill. Offensively, he is a terrific cutter with a nonstop motor, always looking to get around the basket and snatch alley-oops or rebounds. Coach Bendel on Gilmore: “Marlow was the clear-cut hustle guy on our team. He will make a concerted effort to hunt down the ball at any given time. He’s incredibly long and athletic but will also do anything possible to help his team win. He easily led our team in deflections and always seemed to have his hands on the ball. Marlow could be among the best players from camp.” It will be interesting to see how much Gilmore grows during his final two years in high school.”
Gilmore comes from a rural town, Neeses, South Carolina, which is an hour from Columbia, SC and an hour from Aiken, South Carolina. His Hunter Kinard Tyler High School has only 300 students enrolled in 9-12. However, Gilmore has done everything he is supposed to, dominating his level of play. As a junior he averaged 21.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 3.7 blocks and 2.5 steals per game. He is a 2-time All-State performer as well as 2-time Region Player of the Year
Even playing in rural South Carolina Gilmore already carries offers from the likes of South Carolina State and Lincoln Memorial. But like many other D1 players who fall under the radar, Ja Morant, Cartier Diarra, etc…, Gilmore will get more offers as he is seen.
Make sure you watch Gilmore competing with the Columbia Hoyas at Phenom’s Summer Havoc, July 11-15 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Have your pen ready to take notes and prepare to have your jaw dropped.