South Carolina Basketball: Who is the Gamecocks’ most important player in 2017-18?

South Carolina went to the Final Four last season but head into 2017-18 much weaker. Who is the most important player for the Gamecocks next season?

With P.J. Dozier, Duane Notice, and Sindarius Thornwell gone, the South Carolina Gamecocks are heading into 2017-18 with uncertainty across the board.

Fortunately, the Gamecocks are bringing in a fairly talented recruiting class that includes two four-star recruits in shooting guard David Beatty and power forward Ibrahim Doumbia. Both should see significant minutes this season, but I expect this team to focus on development far more than wins in 2017-18.

With so much talent gone, next season is not going to go well for South Carolina. They are arguably one of the weakest squads in the SEC – but it is not the end of the world.

Frank Martin has won games with the Gamecocks by building up long-term players into some of the best in the SEC and his excellent coaching, not an instant transition that sees the team compete for an SEC title year in and year out.

However, the key to future success at South Carolina won’t be the play of incoming freshmen, but instead could be the play of junior Chris Silva.

Silva, who is a 6’9, 223-pound forward out of Gabon, is a phenomenal basketball player who is great on both sides of the ball. Averaging 10.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game last season, Silva could develop into one of the top forwards in the SEC. He has that potential and has shown flashes of it both seasons with the Gamecocks.

Unfortunately, he fouls out at a ridiculous rate, averaging 3.8 fouls a game and only playing around 21 minutes per game due to foul trouble. If he can get his game under control, Silva could be the key to contending in the SEC and a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2019.

This season is all about development and, while players like Beatty and Doumbia will be the true keys to the future, Silva is exactly the type of player who could anchor this team in the future and be the unsung hero of a tournament team.

Next: Ranking top coaching moves of the offseason

Watch for Silva to have a great season, and, more importantly, watch for him to try and foul a little less frequently.