The Gamecocks starting lineup options for next basketball season
March 29, 2019
Because of a variety of injuries, Frank Martin used six different starting lineups during the 2018-19 South Carolina basketball season.
The USC coach mixed and matched his Gamecocks to 16 wins and a fourth place finish in the Southeastern Conference.
As it stands now — late March 2019 — it’s not crazy to think Martin could again tweak his starters more than a handful of times next season. The Gamecocks, assuming everyone comes back to good health, have options at a variety of positions. Here’s a way-too-early look-ahead to what’s next:
BEST FIVE ON THE FLOOR
PG Jair Bolden
SG A.J. Lawson
SF Justin Minaya
PF Keyshawn Bryant
C Maik Kotsar
Martin suggested earlier this week that it’s likely South Carolina plays differently next season as it adapts to life without Chris Silva. There’s not going to be a proven scoring big man to dump the ball inside to, so perhaps the Gamecocks go small and play with even more pace than they showed last year.
Bolden and Lawson are interchangeable in the backcourt, same with Minaya and Bryant at the forward spots. How much weight is added to Bryant’s 6-foot-6, 190-pound frame? The rising sophomore could be a post-up candidate, creating scenes similar to what the 6-5, 211-pound Sindarius Thornwell did as a senior.
Defensively, there’s a lot to like about this group. Minaya was USC’s best perimeter defender until he hurt his knee last November. Lawson is coming off a freshman campaign in which he led the Gamecocks in steals. Bolden, a transfer from George Washington, reminds Silva of former Carolina guard Duane Notice. And Kotsar, despite his noted offensive struggles, is still a defensive asset with his ability to guard multiple positions.
POINT GUARD HEAVY
PG Jair Bolden or Trae Hannibal
SG Jermaine Couisnard or T.J. Moss
SF AJ Lawson
PF Justin Minaya or Keyshawn Bryant
C Maik Kotsar
Martin said Tuesday he likes playing two point guards and that’s “non-negotiable.” How about three?
Bolden, who averaged over 11 points and three assists a game his last season at GW, is plenty capable. Couisnard, a 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman, is too. Hannibal, a 6-foot-1 incoming freshman from Hartsville, brings an “athleticism, a mindset, a dynamic that we haven’t had at point guard since I’ve been here,” Martin said. And then there’s the 6-foot-6 Lawson, who led the Gamecocks in assists last season.
ROOKIE IMPACT
PG Trae Hannibal
SG A.J. Lawson
SF Justin Minaya
PF Keyshawn Bryant
C Wildens Leveque
Martin started T.J. Moss twice at point guard before the rookie went down with a season-ending injury in December. It’s further proof that he’ll play who best fits the situation, no matter a player’s class. Hannibal hasn’t stepped on campus, but his lasting image as a high schooler was a 62-point, 20-rebound performance in a state playoff game.
Leveque is 6-10 and is regarded as Silva-esque with his defensive potential. “He blocks shots a higher clip than Chris did when Chris was in high school. He’s a bigger player,” Martin said Tuesday.
TRADITIONAL
PG Jair Bolden
SG A.J. Lawson
SF Keyshawn Bryant
PF Felipe Haase
C Maik Kotsar
That’s a 6-3 point guard, 6-6 shooting guard, 6-6 small forward, 6-9 power forward and 6-11 center.
March 29, 2019
Because of a variety of injuries, Frank Martin used six different starting lineups during the 2018-19 South Carolina basketball season.
The USC coach mixed and matched his Gamecocks to 16 wins and a fourth place finish in the Southeastern Conference.
As it stands now — late March 2019 — it’s not crazy to think Martin could again tweak his starters more than a handful of times next season. The Gamecocks, assuming everyone comes back to good health, have options at a variety of positions. Here’s a way-too-early look-ahead to what’s next:
BEST FIVE ON THE FLOOR
PG Jair Bolden
SG A.J. Lawson
SF Justin Minaya
PF Keyshawn Bryant
C Maik Kotsar
Martin suggested earlier this week that it’s likely South Carolina plays differently next season as it adapts to life without Chris Silva. There’s not going to be a proven scoring big man to dump the ball inside to, so perhaps the Gamecocks go small and play with even more pace than they showed last year.
Bolden and Lawson are interchangeable in the backcourt, same with Minaya and Bryant at the forward spots. How much weight is added to Bryant’s 6-foot-6, 190-pound frame? The rising sophomore could be a post-up candidate, creating scenes similar to what the 6-5, 211-pound Sindarius Thornwell did as a senior.
Defensively, there’s a lot to like about this group. Minaya was USC’s best perimeter defender until he hurt his knee last November. Lawson is coming off a freshman campaign in which he led the Gamecocks in steals. Bolden, a transfer from George Washington, reminds Silva of former Carolina guard Duane Notice. And Kotsar, despite his noted offensive struggles, is still a defensive asset with his ability to guard multiple positions.
POINT GUARD HEAVY
PG Jair Bolden or Trae Hannibal
SG Jermaine Couisnard or T.J. Moss
SF AJ Lawson
PF Justin Minaya or Keyshawn Bryant
C Maik Kotsar
Martin said Tuesday he likes playing two point guards and that’s “non-negotiable.” How about three?
Bolden, who averaged over 11 points and three assists a game his last season at GW, is plenty capable. Couisnard, a 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman, is too. Hannibal, a 6-foot-1 incoming freshman from Hartsville, brings an “athleticism, a mindset, a dynamic that we haven’t had at point guard since I’ve been here,” Martin said. And then there’s the 6-foot-6 Lawson, who led the Gamecocks in assists last season.
ROOKIE IMPACT
PG Trae Hannibal
SG A.J. Lawson
SF Justin Minaya
PF Keyshawn Bryant
C Wildens Leveque
Martin started T.J. Moss twice at point guard before the rookie went down with a season-ending injury in December. It’s further proof that he’ll play who best fits the situation, no matter a player’s class. Hannibal hasn’t stepped on campus, but his lasting image as a high schooler was a 62-point, 20-rebound performance in a state playoff game.
Leveque is 6-10 and is regarded as Silva-esque with his defensive potential. “He blocks shots a higher clip than Chris did when Chris was in high school. He’s a bigger player,” Martin said Tuesday.
TRADITIONAL
PG Jair Bolden
SG A.J. Lawson
SF Keyshawn Bryant
PF Felipe Haase
C Maik Kotsar
That’s a 6-3 point guard, 6-6 shooting guard, 6-6 small forward, 6-9 power forward and 6-11 center.
