Rewind to March of this year and mention the name Tevin Mack of Dreher High School in Columbia, South Carolina. Few outside of the Palmetto State would know who the 6-foot-6, 195-pound class of 2015 wing is.

Now, on the eve of a new high school season, he's a player people certainly know about. In fact, he's probably the best junior in South Carolina that will step foot onto the hardwood this season. That's good news for his Dreher team, a group that returns four starters and big expectations for the season.

"We are looking pretty good. I think we have a chance to win state this year," Mack said.

That kind of belief comes off the heels of a good showing on the travel circuit with the Carolina Wolves. Mack showed off his offensive arsenal on all three levels and drummed up some attention by the efforts of his play.

He enters his junior year feeling as good as he ever has about his game and about the direction his future is headed.

"I feel like I have more confidence I have in myself to do things. I think I can help my team win more games this year. I feel like I can be more of a leader this year, too," Mack said. "I played pretty well against some pretty good teams on the AAU circuit. I feel like I got a lot better from last year.

"I feel like my defense has gotten better and I feel like I've gotten stronger. We spent the summer in the weight room all fall, lifting weights. I can pretty much bring the ball up the court now, too. My ball-handling has gotten much better."

College coaches see the improvements, too. Mack said Clemson, Georgia, VCU, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Jacksonville, Winthrop, East Carolina and Stephen F. Austin have been in to see him during the pres-season and fall workouts.

Mack visited UGA at the end of August and "just hung out with the coaches, sat down and talked and looked around campus" and was on the field prior to the Clemson-Florid State kickoff.

He said he'd like to visit VCU, Mississippi State and South Carolina sometime during the basketball season.

There is a belief in recruiting circles that Mack will end up at Georgia because his brother played for UGA head coach Mark Fox at Nevada. Mack knows the question flies about.

"I feel like I have a better relationship with (Fox) because he coached my brother. People ask me if I'm going to play at Georgia because my brother but that doesn't matter to me. I want to find the school that best fits me," Mack said.

So, what is he looking for in a school? Simple. Stability.

"I want to find a program where the coach is going to stay there the whole time I'm there. I want him to be there with me. I don't want to play for someone that will leave or get fired," Mack said. "I want him to be there the whole time...Academics are important, too. I want to graduate."

The focus, however, is on the task at hand - winning South Carolina's state championship. Along the way, if the trend setters call him the best in his state, well, so be it.    

"I really want to be the best (player) in South Carolina. I feel like I can be. I think I already am one of the best but I'd like to be the number one player," Mack said. "I strive to be the best player I can."