I would think the more logical thing to do is, if you're going to add assets that will help for a brief period, add assets to the program that will help immediately. It's like JUCO players for CFB - the idea of getting those is to bring immediate help to the depth chart for that position. If the JUCO develops and performs so well that he becomes a starter, then fine - that's an opportunity that's on the table for everyone. But if you're going to add assets that have to sit for whatever reason, then it better be someone that is so good, or that for the position he will play, your staff hasn't got any options that's as good on the table.
That last possibility speaks to recruiting. Woods will be a senior, or red-shirt senior. He's not a grad transfer, because he hasn't earned his degree yet at UNC. He will complete his academic career as well as his athletic career with whoever he chooses.
At least with a JUCO in FB, typically the least you get those guys for, are 2 years. Sometimes 3. And Coach Martin and his staff have taken transfers and JUCO transfers before at USC, but they all have had at least 2 years of eligibility left. Woods will have 1.
So, our staff cannot recruit anyone to take his place out of high school? I do not know that Woods' skill sets have proven themselves to be good enough to warrant taking him at all costs, like what we tried to do with Bowen, but then Bowen would have had as much as 4 years to play if he was allowed.
I would think with Silva and Haase gone, and how we weren't a very good rebounding team last season even with them, that getting as much help in the paint right now would be paramount, and worry about another guard spot next season with recruiting. But if the staff are interested in him as the article above states, I'll defer to them. They know their roster's needs better than I do....
Here's the thing that I think most of the fans don't see right now... the Gamecocks are NOT a rebounding oriented team next year. We've got Kotsar and Frink right now as known quantities (though the incoming freshmen may help there... we'll have to wait and see). We are NOT the Sliva-led team, and we ARE going to look quite different both offensively AND defensively.
Personally, I see a VERY fast-paced offense. It will be a guard-heavy offense, and I can honestly see us playing 3 guards at a time for a good portion of the game. We ALSO should be a very heavily Frank Martin-centric defensive team. Without Silva, we go back to having to press the advantage on the OUTSIDE, rather than primarily defending at the rim. It's what we were so good at when we made our final four run. Now I'm NOT saying that we'll be as good defensively as we were with our final four team, but I AM saying that we'll at least be a lot more respectable defensively than we have been the last 2 years (and particularly last year).
Why do I point all this out? Seventh Woods is absolutely an elite point guard. He's got crazy good skills, and has for quite some time. Did he lose some of his swagger because of the UNC experience? Sure. Has that changed how he plays ball and handles the ball and shoots the ball? NOT ONE BIT.
Frank Martin knows that next year's team will be that fast-paced team. He also knows that the team the following year will likely lose someone like AJ Lawson, and then he REALLY lacks the "star power" and experience we will need going forward. We literally have ONE, count 'em, ONE member of the Senior class the year that Seventh Woods will be playing if he sits out next year. Minaya. That's IT. Everyone else will be Juniors and Sophomores.
Frank's system is built around having guys who have played ball for 4 years leading the team forward. It's why we had such a rough start to the year this year. Beyond Gravett and Silva, we had a grad transfer who had to learn the system and then a bunch of Freshmen who had to learn to play on the fly (plus Kotsar and Haase, who is no longer with us). Seventh Woods gives you a guy, much like Brian Bowen, who can IMMEDIATELY impact the game, and in a very positive way.
Sure, folks will say, "What did he do at UNC?" He played for Roy Williams and played alongside a LOT of talented guys. So he brings a mind for the game that he would not have had for a few years playing at Carolina. Seventh Woods MATTERS deeply to us in two years. He REALLY, REALLY matters. Especially if you think that AJ Lawson may have a good enough year to jump ship after his Sophomore campaign, much like PJ Dozier did.
I advocate strongly that we grab Seventh Woods if we have the chance to do so. He will be more of a team backbone that everyone realizes he will be. And he'll take the load off of a TJ Moss or Cousinard or Lawson (if Lawson is still around) and give us a playmaker and a shooter. And he's got great defensive skills. So I think there's a lot more upside than everyone else realizes.
Just my two cents.
