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South Carolina football made it a clean sweep of the state’s three top offensive line recruits for the Class of 2024.

Dillon High School rising senior Josiah Thompson announced his commitment to Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks on Friday morning. Thompson picked USC over Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Miami and Tennessee during a ceremony at his high school.

Thompson had hats of all six schools on a table for his announcement. After a short speech in which he thanked family, coaches and teammates, he paused briefly before picking the Gamecocks.

“I chose South Carolina because it felt like a second home to me, especially going to be away from my family, and USC will take care of me,” Thompson said. “The coaching staff, Coach Lonnie (Teasley), Coach (Greg) Adkins, Coach Beamer — they have amazing coaches.”

Thompson said his decision came down to Alabama and South Carolina. Crimson Tide offensive line coach Eric Wolford recruited him when he was at South Carolina. Wolford and former USC head coach Will Muschamp were one of the first schools to offer Thompson.

When Beamer was hired in 2020, the USC staff re-offered him and made him a top priority. The Dillon standout has made multiple visits to South Carolina for games and camps over the past two years.

Thompson plans to be there Saturday for the Gamecocks’ spring game.

“Coach Lonnie and Coach Adkins, they have a lot of schemes for me and they will help me become greater on and off the field,” he said.

Thompson is USC’s seventh commitment for the Class of 2024 and third offensive lineman, joining Woodland’s Kam Pringle and Greenville’s Blake Franks. A graphic making the rounds of social media dubbed the three as the “Great Wall of Carolina.” All three players plan to enroll early.

The Gamecocks also have a commitment from Greenville receiver Mazeo Bennett. With Thompson’s commitment, South Carolina moved up to No. 11 in 247Sports recruiting rankings for Class 2024. Six of USC’s seven commits are ranked as four-star prospects.

Thompson and Pringle are both four-star prospects by 247Sports and ranked in the top 75 nationally. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound Thompson is the No. 2 recruit in South Carolina and 73rd in the country, according to 247Sports Composite, which factors in all of the recruiting services.

“Me, Kam and Blake have close communication,” Thompson said. “I met Kam at a Tom Lemming (recruiting) photo shoot. If you trust your teammates and get to know them well, you will be able to work hard together and achieve something great.”

Thompson, who has been selected to play in the All-American Bowl in Texas, said he told Beamer of his decision after attending Gamecocks’ practice earlier this spring. He didn’t tell his parents right away but told them shortly right after that.

Josiah’s father, Robert Thompson, was a walk-on at USC briefly when Brad Scott was the coach at USC. He said he never pressured his son to go to USC, letting him decide.

Robert Thompson said his son began playing football in a Pop Warner league. He didn’t like it right away, thought about quitting and then suffered a hand injury as a young player.

“He stuck with it and continued to want it,” Robert Thompson said. “At first he was scared to get back out there, but we told him, ‘You’ve got to push yourself,’ and he did just that.

“I think he knows his calling, his potential and knows what he wants to do.”

Thompson is the latest high-profile recruit to come through Dillon, which has been one of the state’s top programs over the past two decades. Former Wildcats offensive linemen DJ Park and Bryce King played with the Gamecocks, as well as receiver Kwinton Smith. But Thompson is already ranked higher than his Dillon predecessors in recruiting services.

Dillon coach Kelvin Roller, who was the school’s offensive coordinator at the time, remembers seeing Thompson as an eighth-grader when he was practicing one of the school’s fields.

Thompson played on junior varsity and practiced with the varsity during the playoffs that year.

“We knew him banging heads with some juniors and seniors when he was in eighth grade that he wasn’t shy of contact and was going to be a good player,” Roller said.

Thompson saw time as a freshman playing behind Avery Hewitt, who went on to play at Campbell University. Roller said it was tough keeping Thompson off the field, even playing behind more experienced players, and raved about his improvement over the past three seasons.

Thompson’s length and power stand out, as well as his work ethic off the field, Roller said.

“He is just a great kid and teammate,” the Dillon coach added. “.... I think his potential is unlimited and he puts in the work. And barring any injury or anything, I think he has a very bright future.”

This story was originally published April 14, 2023, 9:07 AM.

DILLON, S.C. (WPDE) — The Dillon Inland Port has been in operation for five years and is credited to be a catalyst for major job growth in Dillon County and the Pee Dee Region.

The S.C. Ports Authority held a celebration Tuesday at the facility in Dillon.

S.C. Ports said the facility had a record number of containers handled at the rail-served inland port in March.

“It was five years ago — almost to the day — that we were here opening this facility. What an accomplished five years we have had,” SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin said. “It has been amazing to see the growth at Inland Port Dillon, as well as with all the port-dependent businesses in the Pee Dee region that rely on SC Ports.”

The idea for Inland Port Dillon came from seeing the success of SC Ports’ first inland port in Greer, which opened in 2013, according to a news release.

It stated S.C. Ports invested in its second inland port in Dillon, which opened in 2018 with Harbor Freight Tools as the anchor tenant.

“This was an innovative and cutting-edge idea at the time that few ports in the country were undertaking, but we believed strongly that South Carolina Ports needed rail-served inland ports in South Carolina,” Melvin said. “We wanted to extend the Port of Charleston’s reach inland to better serve our customers.”

Inland Port Dillon provides importers and exporters with a direct connection to the Port of Charleston via CSX rail.

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The operation "swiftly handles goods for importers like Harbor Freight Tools and exporters like International Paper, The Anderson’s and Darling International."

Inland Port Dillon supports agribusiness by connecting farmers to international markets. Customers like Performance Ag, Palmetto Grain, Smithfield Grain, Northwest Grains and C&M Hog Farms move grain and soybeans through the inland port.

“The dedication and skill of our Inland Port Dillon team has created growth in the region,” Melvin said. “Port investments create jobs. When looking at all the companies that are tied to the port, our port operations support more than 25,000 jobs in the Pee Dee region.”

March marked the busiest month in Inland Port Dillon’s history, with more than 4,300 containers handled. This is a 16% increase from the previous record set in December 2022. Inland Ports Greer and Dillon handled 17,534 rail moves combined in March.

Leslie Thompson with CM Grains and Trucking out of Dillon County said the inland port has helped them to expand their level of operations.

"We're all about wanting to help the community grow. And it has really enabled us to expand. And broaden the horizons. And number one, help Dillon County," said Thompson.

Many South Carolina lawmakers spoke highly of the port, including:

Gov. Henry McMaster

“Investments in our ports system are critically important to expanding our state’s economy and creating jobs for South Carolinians. In just five short years, Inland Port Dillon has helped to spur economic growth in the Pee Dee and has created even more opportunities for our people and business community."

Sen. Lindsey Graham

“Inland Port Dillon connects the Pee Dee region to the Port of Charleston via rail, helping existing companies grow and also attract new investments to the region. The Inland Port demonstrates the importance of building critical infrastructure in rural counties. I appreciate the growth of the Inland Port over the past five years and recognize that when it comes to business development and growth in South Carolina, the best is yet to come.”

SC Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers

“South Carolina is driven by agriculture. We are thrilled to see that the success of Inland Port Dillon continues to drive agricultural exports from South Carolina. By connecting farmers to global markets, the rail-served inland port creates agribusiness opportunities, spurring growth for our farmers and our port system.”

Congressman Russell Fry

“South Carolina Ports are a huge driver of our state's robust economy. When I visited the Inland Port Dillon last month, I witnessed firsthand how the port connects South Carolina businesses to the global marketplace. I am proud that South Carolina's Seventh District and the Pee Dee play such an integral role in our state's port system.”

Rep. Jackie E. “Coach” Hayes

“Seeing commerce at work at Inland Port Dillon fills me with pride for our community. Over the past five years, we have watched as this operation has grown and supported our businesses. From the people operating the cranes, to the companies relying on the inland port to send and receive goods, Inland Port Dillon has helped create jobs in the Pee Dee region. We are excited to see continued economic growth for our community.”

Sen. Kent Williams

“Our entire region has benefited from Inland Port Dillon. It has created new opportunities and boosted our economy. For those working at Inland Port Dillon, they have found good careers in the logistics industry. For those companies that rely on Inland Port Dillon, we have seen many of them invest in operations, expand their facilities and hire more people. We look forward to what future growth in the Pee Dee.”

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Sen. Gerald Malloy

“SC Ports is a major economic driver for our state and our region, generating a $7.1 billion economic impact in the Pee Dee each year. The continued growth of Inland Port Dillon will help our port-dependent businesses thrive and create more economic opportunities in the future.”

Inland Port Dillon recently celebrated its fifth anniversary with a record number of containers handled at the rail-served inland port in the Pee Dee region during March.

“What an accomplished five years we have had,” said Barbara Melvin, president and CEO of South Carolina Ports Authority. “It has been amazing to see the growth at Inland Port Dillon, as well as with all the port-dependent businesses in the Pee Dee region that rely on South Carolina Ports.”

The idea for Inland Port Dillon came from seeing the success of South Carolina Ports’ first inland port in Greer, which opened in 2013. The authority invested in its second inland port in Dillon, which opened in 2018 with Harbor Freight Tools as the anchor tenant.

“This was an innovative and cutting-edge idea at the time that few ports in the country were undertaking, but we believed strongly that South Carolina ports needed rail-served inland ports in South Carolina,” Melvin said. “We wanted to extend the Port of Charleston’s reach inland to better serve our customers.”

Inland Port Dillon provides importers and exporters with a direct connection to the Port of Charleston via CSX rail. The operation swiftly handles goods for importers like Harbor Freight Tools and exporters like International Paper, The Andersons and Darling International.

Inland Port Dillon also supports agribusiness by connecting farmers to international markets. Customers like Performance Ag, Palmetto Grain, Smithfield Grain, Northwest Grains and C&M Hog Farms move grain and soybeans through the inland port.

“The dedication and skill of our Inland Port Dillon team has created growth in the region,” Melvin said. “Port investments create jobs. When looking at all the companies that are tied to the port, our port operations support more than 25,000 jobs in the Pee Dee region.”

March marked the busiest month in Inland Port Dillon’s history, with more than 4,300 containers handled. This is a 16% increase from the previous record set in December 2022. Inland Ports Greer and Dillon handled 17,541 rail moves combined in March.

South Carolina Ports overall handled 193,085 TEUs and 107,084 pier containers in March, for a total of nearly 2 million TEUs and around 1.09 million pier containers handled fiscal-year-to-date. The ports also handled 15,692 vehicles last month.

“We proudly move freight for South Carolina, and we are equally as proud to be a part of the Dillon community,” Melvin said. “We look forward to more growth here in the years to come.”

South Carolina Ports celebrates the five-year anniversary of Inland Port Dillon with record number of containers handled at the rail-served inland port in March.

“It was five years ago — almost to the day — that we were here opening this facility. What an accomplished five years we have had,” SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin said. “It has been amazing to see the growth at Inland Port Dillon, as well as with all the port-dependent businesses in the Pee Dee region that rely on SC Ports.”

The idea for Inland Port Dillon came from seeing the success of SC Ports’ first inland port in Greer, which opened in 2013. SC Ports invested in its second inland port in Dillon, which opened in 2018 with Harbor Freight Tools as the anchor tenant.

“This was an innovative and cutting-edge idea at the time that few ports in the country were undertaking, but we believed strongly that South Carolina Ports needed rail-served inland ports in South Carolina,” Melvin said. “We wanted to extend the Port of Charleston’s reach inland to better serve our customers.”

Inland Port Dillon provides importers and exporters with a direct connection to the Port of Charleston via CSX rail. The operation swiftly handles goods for importers like Harbor Freight Tools and exporters like International Paper, The Anderson’s and Darling International.

Inland Port Dillon supports agribusiness by connecting farmers to international markets. Customers like Performance Ag, Palmetto Grain, Smithfield Grain, Northwest Grains and C&M Hog Farms move grain and soybeans through the inland port.

“The dedication and skill of our Inland Port Dillon team has created growth in the region,” Melvin said. “Port investments create jobs. When looking at all the companies that are tied to the port, our port operations support more than 25,000 jobs in the Pee Dee region.”

March marked the busiest month in Inland Port Dillon’s history, with more than 4,300 containers handled. This is a 16% increase from the previous record set in December 2022. Inland Ports Greer and Dillon handled 17,534 rail moves combined in March.

SC Ports handled 193,085 TEUs and 107,084 pier containers in March, for a total of nearly 2 million TEUs and around 1.09 million pier containers handled fiscal-year-to-date. SC Ports also handled 15,692 vehicles last month.

“We proudly move freight for South Carolina, and we are equally as proud to be a part of the Dillon community,” Melvin said. “We look forward to more growth here in the years to come.”

A situation is underway on Pocosin Road in the Oakgrove community of Dillon County on June 23, 2023, involving a man who barricaded himself inside a home after deputies showed up for a civil matter, according to Dillon County Sheriff Douglas Pernell. (Credit: Jordan Brotherton/WPDE)

DILLON COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — UPDATE: Barricaded man accused of resisting arrest, endangering child in Dillon Co. standoff

A situation is underway on Pocosin Road in the Oakgrove community of Dillon County Friday afternoon involving a man who barricaded himself inside a home after deputies showed up for a civil matter, according to Dillon County Sheriff Douglas Pernell.

Pernell said it's believed that the man is armed.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is at the scene.

A community member said the man came out with a gun and told deputies they would have to come inside to get him.

A man believed to be the person barricaded inside the home sent a message to ABC 15's Tonya Brown via Facebook.

He said, "I did not come out with a gun I haven't stepped foot outside over this illegal eviction."

He then commented saying the judicial system is crooked.

He said, "i didn't get a prior 30 day eviction. the cops scared my child. i'm sick of getting screwed over."

ABC 15 has made authorities aware of the message from the man.

His family member reached out to him as well saying she's worried and that he's been through a lot in recent weeks.

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SLED agents are using a robot to canvass around the home.

It's not clear what the specific role of the robot is in this situation.

Deputies have talked with the man barricaded inside the home over a loudspeaker. They're encouraging him to come out.

Several armored vehicles are on the scene.

The man's relative said he has his little girl inside the home.

Dillon County Chief Deputy Jamie Hamilton said he can't confirm if a child is in the home.

However, ABC 15's cameras caught a man walking back into the home holding a small child.

Deputies have shut down Pocosin Road at Highway 38 until the situation is resolved.

Officers aren't allowing anyone through at this time.

One woman said she came to the scene to talk with the man inside the home.

She said she knows him and believes he may come out if she can just talk with him.

Deputies told the woman she had to stay back for safety reasons.

You're asked to avoid Pocosin Road at Highway 34 for the time being.

ABC 15 will keep you updated on what happens.