Three top takeaways about the Gamecocks who played in this year’s SC Pro-Am
College basketball games aren’t won or lost in July, and it would be wise not to make too much of stats from the annual S.C. Pro-Am event.
Still, with the South Carolina men’s basketball team bringing in six transfer players and three freshmen, this year’s Pro-Am offered an opportunity to see several new Gamecocks in action for the first time.
Hosted at Heathwood Hall, the summer Pro-Am pits current Gamecocks against professionals and players at other colleges from across the state in a casual pick-up game format. Most of USC’s team participated in this year’s event with the notable exception of veterans Jermaine Couisnard and Keyshawn Bryant, as well as transfers Erik Stevenson and Josh Gray. The three-day tournament concluded Sunday.
While much can change between now and the start of the college season, here are early impressions of the Gamecocks who played in the Pro-Am.
1. Devin Carter could make an instant impact
The team’s top-rated freshman, Carter was the most dynamic player on the court and was the Pro-Am’s leading scorer with 33 points per game. Head coach Frank Martin has raved about Carter ever since the Gamecocks signed him, and the 6-foot-4 wing delivered early on the hype, scoring 35 points in his first game.
A standout athlete with speed and vertical ability, Carter did most of his damage near the basket, using a quick first step to burst past defenders and finish with power — often with a dunk. While Carter likely won’t be able to blow past SEC defenses with the same level of ease, his extra gear is apparent and stood out all week long. At one point Sunday he delivered a punishing put-back dunk that brought Gamecock great Sindarius Thornwell to his feet in the stands.
Carter can shoot, too, although he was somewhat inconsistent from the 3-point line, shooting 35% from deep. With his skill set — and based on early reports from practice — it wouldn’t be surprising to see Carter crack the starting lineup in his freshman season.
2. New shooters in USC backcourt
Martin said one of the coaching staff’s priorities in the offseason was adding more efficient shooters to the roster. Last season, outside of A.J. Lawson, the Gamecocks didn’t have a dependable, consistent shooter from deep.
Based on performances at the Pro-Am, Martin should have more shooters at his disposal. Freshman Jacobi Wright and transfers Chico Carter Jr. and James Reese all manned the point for their respective Pro-Am teams and showed confidence shooting beyond the arc and from mid-range. Carter Jr. (53%) and Wright (50%) each made roughly half their 3-point attempts, while Reese sunk six 3-pointers in a 32-point effort Sunday.
Carter Jr. and Wright should directly compete for minutes at point guard, and both showed natural ball-handling ability during the Pro-Am, with Carter Jr. setting up a few flashy alley-oops for his teammates. Though not as explosive as his fellow freshman Carter, Wright plays with a cool, calm steadiness and showed elusiveness in his ability to weave through defenses.
3. Big men slim down
With Maik Kotsar playing overseas and Alanzo Frink ruled out due to medical reasons, the Gamecocks lacked stability and experience in the front-court last season. Sophomore Wildens Leveque was thrust into the starting center role early in the year, and freshman Tre-Vaughn Minott saw time there soon after he joined the team midseason from NBA Academy Latin America.
Both players look noticeably slimmer this summer as they vie for starting roles on next year’s squad. Minott, listed at 6-foot-9 and 280 pounds, came to USC out of basketball shape and played limited minutes due to his conditioning, but he stepped into Heathwood Hall last week with a more chiseled frame. Minott didn’t participate in the Pro-Am, wearing a boot on his left foot on the first day of the event for precautionary reasons. He was no longer wearing a boot by the final day.
Listed at 6-foot-10, 242 pounds, Leveque looked leaner and more spry as he raced up and down the court, and Martin said earlier in the month that Leveque might be the player on the roster in the best shape. It’s unclear how the 6-foot-11 transfer Gray might fit into the front-court equation, but Leveque should be an early front-runner to start, especially with how he finished last season. Leveque credited strength and conditioning coach Scott Greenawalt for helping him shape up.
“I’m just happy that I’m just getting better and seeing my game progress,” Leveque said, “and seeing how I’m learning and understanding the game of basketball.”
