South Carolina basketball’s shifting summer plans; Lawson, injury updates
It looks like South Carolina’s men’s basketball players will have a little longer at home before coming back to Columbia.
Coach Frank Martin said the team is revising its plans after the NCAA released a finalized recommendation that basketball teams could start required summer activities on July 20. The plan had been to have players return June 29, but that date will be pushed back.
“I’m right in the middle of trying to find a new date,” Martin said. “We’re still trying to figure all that out.”
Martin said part of the rationale for the change is that if players returned in late June, they’d likely go home for one stretch before the semester started, creating the chance for more exposure and spread of the coronavirus. College sports have been all but shut down since mid-March.
Martin said that shouldn’t affect anything with the pre-draft process for star guard A.J. Lawson, who is still in the draft despite a report this week to the contrary. Lawson has until Aug. 3, or potentially earlier if the pre-draft combine can be held, to withdraw his name.
“There’s no need to rush,” Martin said. “He’s had probably six or seven interviews with NBA teams (on Zoom).
“As long as NBA teams are offering interviews, I don’t see any reason why he should try and make a decision sooner than he has to.”
Martin expects Lawson to report to campus with the rest of the team, unless he’s made a decision to fully keep his name in the draft.
Injury update
Junior forward Alanzo Frink had a knee procedure on June 6. He’s still in Columbia doing his rehab.
“I told him that makes two big old slugs that both have bad knees at the same time in he and I,” Martin said. “We just need him to say in shape and not get in my shape.
“He’s in great spirits.”
Martin said he’s doing better after a recent knee replacement. The first 10 days were particularly hard, but it was overdue. He mentioned that he stood up less during games because of pain in the knee.
Frink started 12 games last season, playing in 30. He averaged 14.3 minutes and 5.3 points and will be competing to fill the open center spot left by Maik Kotsar’s departure.
A common tie
Will Bailey had been on Frank Martin’s short list for any assistant opening that came up, and it didn’t hurt to have a good reference.
Martin said a key connection was that Bailey played for Murry Bartow at UAB, which meant he played for then-UAB assistant Andy Kennedy, a longtime friend and confidant of Martin. The head coach also noted a fit with the staff was a key part of what helped Bailey.
“I can’t have too many guys that do the same thing, act the same way, recruit the same areas,” Martin said. “So you’ve got to have balance.”
Bailey is from Chicago, and Martin said he could give the staff a presence there, plus in Kansas City and St. Louis areas. Bailey also has ties to New England’s prep school scene, a place the Gamecocks look often, and worked in East Tennessee for some taste of the region where he’ll be working.
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 12:26 PM.
