From NBA players to USC’s new faces: 5 things to watch at the SC Pro-Am
The seventh annual South Carolina Pro-Am basketball tournament begins at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and concludes with a championship the following Sunday. All games will be played at Heathwood Hall school, with opening day start times of 2:30, 3:45 and 5 p.m. Admission is free.
Here are five things to watch:
The NBA comes to Columbia
Sindarius Thornwell headlines three current NBA players scheduled to be on display at Heathwood.
Thornwell, the 2017 SEC Player of the Year for USC coming off his rookie season with the Los Angeles Clippers, will play for Leevy’s. He’s teaming with Hassani Gravett, a rising senior at Carolina, and Alanzo Frink, an incoming freshman.
Clipper Jawun Evans, a Greenville native and Oklahoma State product, is playing for Knights Concrete. Denver Nugget Torrey Craig, a Columbia native who starred at USC Upstate, is playing for Bakari Sellers All-Stars.
Former Gamecocks in action
Beyond Thornwell, you can watch former Gamecocks from as far back as Carlos Powell to recent grads Wes Myers and Frank Booker.
Final Four hero P.J. Dozier and USC hall of famer Devan Downey were late additions. Dozier will play for PASCO. Downey will play for the Jets.
Dozier and Thornwell square off at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Chris Silva’s return
After testing the NBA waters, Silva decided to return to South Carolina for his senior season. Here’s your first chance to show your appreciation for the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Silva will be teammates with A.J. Lawson on Bakari Sellers All-Stars. Lawson, the highest rated of the five-man 2018 recruiting class, is likely to challenge Justin Minaya as USC’s top wing scoring threat in 2018-19. Lawson’s chemistry with Silva will be key as the Gamecocks begin to develop their top inside-outside tandem.
Point guard grooming
While Lawson might be the most high-profile new Gamecock, perhaps the two most important incomers are Tre Campbell and T.J. Moss.
Coach Frank Martin guided USC to an above-.500 record last season despite never establishing a true point guard. Finding stability at that position became a goal of the offseason. Enter Campbell, a grad transfer from Georgetown, and Moss, a freshman from Memphis. The conductors represent the now and future at PG for Carolina.
You’ll find them this week on the same Knights Concrete team.
A local and soon-to-be rival
Tevin Mack averaged 30 points and nine rebounds a game during his senior season at Dreher High School. Four years later, he’s back in Columbia – before becoming an opponent of the home team.
Mack played two years at Texas before transferring to Alabama. After sitting out last season, Mack is eligible for the Crimson Tide in 2018-19. USC hosts the Tide this year on a date to be determined.
The 6-foot-6 wing is teammates this week with the likes of Moss and Campbell on Knights Concrete.
SC Pro-Am Rosters
Bakari Sellers All-Stars
Torrey Craig, AJ Lawson, Wes Myers, Chris Silva, Brevin Galloway, Deion Holmes, Tyler Harris, William Adams, Eric Eaves, Malik Moore
Jets
Ja’Cor Nelson, Frank Booker, AJ Oliver, Tyler Brevard, Preston Parks, Keith Matthews, Jair Bolden, Keishawn Brewton, Maik Kotsar, Devan Downey
Knights Concrete
Elijah Thomas, Jawun Evans, Tevin Mack, Rod Howell, Jodan Portee, Marcellius Garrick, Tre Campbell, Cam Lee, TJ Moss, Dominique Archie
Leevy’s
Sindarius Thornwell, Alonzo Frink, Clyde Trapp, Christiaan Jones, Hassani Gravett, Najee Garvin, Tariq Simmons, Ryan McCray, Kenny Manigualt
PASCO
Jarrell Brantley, Grant Riller, Kaiden Rice, Keyshawn Bryant, Jaylen Shaw, James Reese, Jason Cudd, Detrek Browning, Jamie Clarke, Xavier Miller, P.J. Dozier
Bernie’s Chicken
Carlos Powell, Jarvis Davis, Daniel Bailey, Jordan Watson, Winston Hill, Nathan Nelson, Isaih Moore, Daniel Carr, Vincent Cole
SC Pro-Am Schedule
SUNDAY, JULY 22
2:30 PM Jets vs. Bernie’s Chicken
3:45 PM Knights Concrete vs. Bakari Sellers All-Stars
5:00 PM PASCO vs. Leevy’s
WEDNESDAY, JULY 25
6:00 PM PASCO VS. Jets
7:15 PM Bernie’s Chicken vs. Knights Concrete
8:30 PM Leevy’s vs. Bakari Sellers All-Stars
SATURDAY, JULY 28
2:30 PM Jets vs. Bakari Sellers All-Stars
3:45 PM Leevy’s vs. Bernie’s Chicken
5:00 PM PASCO vs. Knights Concrete
SUNDAY, JULY 29 (CHAMPIONSHIP)
2:30 PM 5TH PLACE vs 6TH PLACE
3:45 PM 4TH PLACE vs. 3RD PLACE
5:00 PM 2ND PLACE vs. 1ST PLACE
This story was originally published July 21, 2018 at 8:23 AM.