SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Marcus Lattimore had long gotten used to playing on the best team in South Carolina high school football.

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AP

Marcus Lattimore announces his decision to sign with the University of South Carolina .

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Now, he's out to make the Gamecocks the best in the Southeastern Conference.

The Byrnes High star picked South Carolina over Auburn tonight, with an assist from former NFL star Stephen Davis, who left his native state to play for the Tigers in the early 1990s.

Davis brought up a black bag that contained caps with Lattimore's chosen school inside. Lattimore pulled out a solid orange hat and whispers buzzed through the crowd that he, too, would follow Davis' lead and go to Auburn.

That's when Lattimore uncovered the Gamecock cap underneath and placed it on his head as the 300 or so in Silver Hill Memorial United Methodist Church erupted in cheers.

Davis counseled Lattimore "to go with my gut feeling," the player said. "I just took that advice and ran with it."

Lattimore was one of the most sought after runners in the Southeast. He was rated the top running back by Rivals.com and Scout.com. ESPNU had him No. 19 among its top 150 prospects in the country.

Lattimore helped Byrnes to two state championships and was named South Carolina's "Mr. Football" after rushing for nearly 1,900 yards and more than 30 touchdowns last fall.

He had more than 30 colleges chasing him the past few years, a journey that ended in Lattimore's mind when South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier and several Gamecock coaches visited him at home last Saturday.

A big draw, Lattimore said, was when Spurrier did the cha-cha slide with the player's mother, Yolanda. "He's not a bad dancer."

Today is the first day prospects like Lattimore can officially sign with a college.

Some of Lattimore's future teammates include defensive lineman Kelcy Quarles of Greenwood and quarterback Dylan Thompson of Boiling Springs. Both have been Gamecock commitments for some time and should sign with South Carolina today.

"He's like my brother," Quarles said of Lattimore. "I can't wait to play with him."

Lattimore figures to fill an immediate need for Spurrier, whose Gamecocks have been dead last in rushing in the SEC for the past three seasons. Lattimore also has good hands to make him a threat in Spurrier's passing attack.

"I do not think there's a back in this class, and maybe in the last three to four classes, that is as talented in the passing game," said ESPN national recruiting director Tom Luginbill.

Lattimore, at 6-feet and 207 pounds, said no place fit him as well as South Carolina, and maybe no offense would do better getting him catches out of the backfield as Spurrier's attack.

"It's good that this is over," Lattimore said. "Now, it's time to get to work."

Davis was happy for Lattimore, although he put in a plug for himself.

"I think he's one of the best," Davis said with smile, "besides me."

Davis said he was only interested in helping Lattimore decide what was best for him.

"I think Steve Spurrier will do everything possible to get everything out of him," Davis said. "But the thing (Lattimore) has to understand is he has to have the will and determination to do it also."

Lattimore called Spurrier on Monday night "and he was real fired up."

His main goal now? Making South Carolina one of the SEC's best.

"I know if I work hard," he said, "I can get on the field the first game."