He helped recommend Chris Silva to an NBA team. He’d do the same for Kotsar
South Carolina basketball forward Maik Kotsar had his family, his coach and his girlfriend around him as he walked Tuesday for senior night.
But outside that group, it’s hard to imagine someone saying nicer things about the senior than Mississippi State’s Ben Howland following the game.
Asked about the senior’s development, Howland started with the phrase, “There’s a reason they went to a Final Four,” referencing Kotsar’s role starting as that team’s No. 5 scorer. That’s high praise, but Howland was looking ahead as much as back, comparing Kotsar to a former teammate Chris Silva, now playing with Miami in the NBA.
“I was telling Miami Heat about (Silva),” Howland said. “I got a good friend Chad Kammerer, and he’s been with the Heat for 20 years. I mean, you know this kid is special. This kid Kotsar is special because of his ball-handling skills, his passing skills, his footwork, his lateral quickness to go with that body, he’ll play in the NBA. And he’s going to be hard pressed turned down, you know, money in Russia and everywhere else that’s going to want to have him.”
Kotsar has blossomed in his final season, averaging 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and more than a block and a steal per game. But he has also tormented Mississippi State specifically, averaging 14.5 points per game against the Bulldogs.
He’s scored 20 or more points four times in his career, three against MSU.
He was a little off-target at times on Tuesday, but he did hit some crucial jumpers early and closed out with a pair of dunks as the Gamecocks made a final run.
“He’s like, automatic (from) 17 feet,” Howland said. “He’s gonna make a lot of money playing basketball for a long time.”
This season has been an evolution of sorts, as Kotsar, who has always been a versatile defensive anchor, turned himself into a reliable offensive player, something that couldn’t be said about him through his first three years.
Howland also got on another train Gamecocks coach Frank Martin has been on. South Carolina has put a player on the All-SEC coaches first team four years in a row. Martin has been banging the drum for Kotsar to get some recognition, perhaps even as conference defensive player of the year.
Howland is of a similar mindset.
“He’s an all-league player, first-team in the SEC,” Howland said.
