By Hale McGranahan.

ORANGEBURG – The recruiting ride that Albert Huggins has been on for the last two years is finally coming to an end.

Rated with four stars and ranked the No. 1 player in the state of South Carolina, Huggins committed to Clemson during an announcement ceremony in the Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School auditorium on Friday morning.

“It’s a blessing,” Huggins told TheClemsonInsider, after signing financial aid agreement paperwork with his parents.

“It was fun. I enjoyed it. I really did enjoy it. I enjoyed it, so I’m kind of sad it’s over, but on to better things.”

Clemson got the final nod over Georgia.

“My parents, they’re the ones who let me handle the situation, ‘Wherever you go, we support you.’ It wasn’t that hard for me,” Huggins said. “I was just like, ‘Hey, I’m feeling Georgia right now, I’m feeling Clemson.’

“At the end of the day, I’m a Clemson Tiger.”

Among other things, Clemson’s family-first philosophy attracted him to Tigertown.

“The education is top notch. The No. 1 defense, that caught my eye, that an opportunity to play, that caught my eye the most,” Huggins said.

Clemson defensive ends coach Marion Hobby, who recruits the Orangeburg area, was at the school on Friday morning, before the announcement.

“I’m happy about it. That’s another reason why I picked Clemson,” Huggins said. “Coach Hobby is a great coach. We get along. He’s my dad, that’s how we get along. He’s a great coach.”