Martin nears decision on suspended players
The status of Demetrius Henry and Shamiek Sheppard might soon be announced.
South Carolina coach Frank Martin said that he planned another meeting with the pair on Wednesday. They have been suspended since Feb. 17 for conduct detrimental to the team.
Henry, who would be a rising junior, and Sheppard, who would be a rising sophomore, would give the Gamecocks 11 returning scholarship players.
USC has received signed letters-of-intent from P.J. Dozier and Chris Silva, which would put them at the NCAA limit of 13 for next year. The Gamecocks have also received verbal commitments from Travon Bunch and Jamall Gregory.
The spring signing period began on Wednesday and lasts until May 20. USC is still on the recruiting trail with junior-college transfer Conor Clifford and New Jersey guard Malik Ellison recently speaking with Martin. Columbia prep star Tevin Mack, who chose VCU over USC and others in November, also has re-opened his recruitment after being released from his NLI.
Martin also touched on other subjects:
▪ Brian Steele (right knee) and Sindarius Thornwell (patella tendons) are doing fine after having surgery shortly after the season concluded. Steele can return to the court in June but Thornwell is a wait-and-see. “Sindarius says his knees feel better right now than they felt at any time during the season,” Martin said.
▪ There was talk before the season began about Thornwell looking at the NBA. Martin said that when he met with him after the season the subject never came up.
▪ TeMarcus Blanton, who redshirted his freshman season with a hip injury, has a six-month checkup on April 29. He is able to run in a straight line (no cutting) and has been able to dunk on a side goal while other individual drills are going on. The doctors will see how the hip bone has healed, if the blood flow is good and if the muscles are strengthening around the bone before they clear him to start lightly cutting while running.
▪ The schedule most likely will not be released as early as it was last year. “We’re a little behind,” Martin said. The only known games are the Paradise Jam from Nov. 20-23, and an unscheduled game at rival Clemson. The Clemson game will be played in Greenville because Littlejohn Coliseum undergoing renovations.
This story was originally published April 15, 2015 at 9:37 PM with the headline "Martin nears decision on suspended players."