South Carolina Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Gamecocks
By Brian Rauf
Projected starters
Hassani Gravett
Gravett, now a senior, was South Carolina’s leading assist man last year and solidified himself as their starting point guard. Once just a scoring threat who could fill it up when he got hot, Gravett has become a reliable two-way player and rebounder.
A.J. Lawson
Lawson was a top 40 prospect in the 2019 class before reclassifying and committing to the Gamecocks. At 6-6, he’s an elite scorer who has a great three-point shot. Martin will work on improving his defense but this roster desperately needs his scoring punch.
Justin Minaya
Minaya was a reliable wing player as a freshman, averaging 7.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 39 percent shooting. He’s the kind of smart all-around player that Martin loves, so it wasn’t a surprise to see him start every game last year. Becoming more consistent is the biggest key for him.
Chris Silva
Silva is a real star in the SEC and one of the most underrated players in the country. He led the Gamecocks in points, rebounds, and blocks while earning SEC co-Defensive Player of the Year honors as a junior. Silva has always produced when he has been on the court but has a tendency to get into foul trouble. If he continues to cut down on that, he could have a dominant season.
Maik Kotsar
There are times where Kotsar looks like he doesn’t know what he’s doing on the court. But he’s a big, strong player who excels on the glass and does a little bit of everything. Kotsar’s toughness has made him a Frank Martin favorite.