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SEC Basketball: 5 transfer guards that could be game changers in 2021-22

By Caleb Hightower

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: The arena sits unused after the announcement of the cancellation of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The tournament has been cancelled due to the growing concern about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: The arena sits unused after the announcement of the cancellation of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The tournament has been cancelled due to the growing concern about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Washington Huskies Erik Stevenson Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Huskies Erik Stevenson Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Erik Stevenson | Guard | 6’4″| Senior

Transferred from Washington to South Carolina

2020-21 stats: 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game

After finishing 6-15 overall and 4-12 in the SEC last season, South Carolina is looking to bounce back in 2021-22 and take some pressure off Frank Martin heading into his 10th season as the Gamecocks’ head coach. Sure, losing AJ Lawson (who led the Gamecocks in scoring last season) to the NBA was a tough blow for Frank Martin and his staff, but Washington transfer, Erik Stevenson, could help reduce some of that pain in 2021-22.

Despite Washington starting the 2020-21 season horrifically (they were 2-11 to begin the year), Stevenson showed promise as a three-point shooter 13 games into his junior campaign, as he shot a solid 37% from downtown (20-54). However, Stevenson had a difficult time finding the bottom of the net from beyond the arc during the second half of the season, which resulted in him finishing the year with a disappointing three-point shooting percentage (29.8%). With that being said, Stevenson does deserve credit for finding other ways to be productive on the offensive end of the floor and ensuring that it wasn’t three-pointer or bust for him all year long.

The Huskers’ offense is all about executing several dribble hand-offs on the perimeter, and because Stevenson paid close attention to his surroundings and realized when defenders stumbled/lost their footing as he (Stevenson) was receiving dribble hand-offs, Stevenson was able to turn the corner with ease on multiple occasions and make simple plays for himself at Washington.

Now, if he is ever asked to succeed in isolation situations at South Carolina, you shouldn’t expect much from him, but because Frank Martin loves to emphasize ball and player movement in the Gamecocks’ offense, Stevenson shouldn’t have to worry a whole lot about having to break defenders down off the dribble.

It would certainly be beneficial for Stevenson to begin the 2021-22 season as a respectable three-point shooter (like he did last year), because it’ll cause some defenders to feel the need to run him off the line, which is when a basic shot-fake will come into play and help him walk into pull-up after pull-up.

I’m not sure if Stevenson will be as impactful as AJ Lawson was in Columbia, but he does have the potential to be an important piece for a South Carolina squad that wants to return to being competitive in the SEC.

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