With talent in the pipeline, present - and future - bright for Gamecock basketball

The South Carolina basketball teams have played 23 games before Christmas and won ’em all. As they head into a lengthy holiday break, each is reflecting on what it took to get here.

And also what beckons in the future.

The Gamecocks announced one men’s signee and two women’s signees during the fall period, with the potential of adding more players in the spring. With the season on hiatus, USC’s future recruits spoke about what’s going on in their high-school seasons and what they hope to bring to the Gamecocks.

Sedee Keita (SEE-dee KAY-ta) was in Columbia for the Bojangles’ Bash, where he scored four points with eight rebounds and three blocks in a 22Ft Academy victory. Any concern about his lack of offense is unfounded – Keita was a 6-foot-2 guard in middle school who suddenly shot up seven inches. He’s still learning to play big-man offense but has mastered big-man defense.

“It was hard. I had to get in the gym and change a lot of stuff,” Keita said of his transformation. “I think I do what my team needs me to do -- protect the rim and get the W.”

Keita’s first shot attempt during the Bojangles’ game was a 3-pointer. It’s a familiar sight to Frank Martin, who experienced the same when Laimonas Chatkevicius and Mindaugas Kacinas were freshmen.

The two Lithuanians grew up in a system where outside shooting was the best option. When they came to America, it took them a couple of years to realize they should be playing like big men – although the 3-point prowess never went away. Keita, due to learning the game as a guard and then growing, is going through the same process.

“Right now, he wants to shoot 3s, and the ball comes out of his hands clean, and that’s a skill,” Martin said. “He’s trying to figure out how to play like a 6-9 guy now. And that’ll come. His intangibles – his ability to run, his ability to catch the ball, his ability to pass, to shoot – those are there.”

Keita displayed a knack for tracking blocks as he ran after fast breaks, and great aggression for playing for a putback slam on a teammate’s outside jumper. He needs to rebound better – he was mostly boxing out and letting a teammate handle the ball – but he’s already broad across the shoulders and won’t need to add a lot of girth once he comes to USC.

“I can’t wait to play with Chris (Silva),” Keita said. “I feel like we’re really similar.”

Keita plans to enroll in May.

“I think Sedee has a chance to be a stud,” Martin said. “Just the natural instincts he has for the game, I think he’s going to be real good.”

Mikiah “Kiki” Harrigan is another post prospect that Dawn Staley plucked over Georgia, Texas A&M and Miami. Her official visit was hosted by A’ja Wilson, where she got the lowdown on a forward’s life at USC.

“Post players don’t really shoot from outside, and they’ll pack them in the paint,” Harrigan said. “I’m comfortable anywhere I play, but I like to stay on the high post. I’m a good passer, too.”

Harrigan will team with Araion Bradshaw, rated the best player in New England, as the first two pieces of Dawn Staley’s next recruiting class. USC is losing five seniors, all who helped the program become what it is today.

It will be tough to lose them and for the newbies to take on the pressure of keeping the run going. But it’s also opening spots that they can fill.

“A factor was they play on a much bigger stage,” Harrigan said. “Joni (Crenshaw) was a first-year head coach, so by going to Georgia, I knew I’d probably play more. But it’s all about playing with great players and competing with the best on a day-to-day basis.”

She’s looking forward to keeping the run going.

“We had an instant connection, and I talked to all her players,” Harrigan said. “(Staley) is a great coach on and off the floor.”

This story was originally published December 26, 2015 at 10:52 AM.