PHOTOS: Men’s basketball team hosts Garnet & Black Madness

GARNET & BLACK MADNESS

Nola dixon

The Gamecocks men’s basketball team hosted Garnet & Black Madness on Oct. 26, 2022. During the event, the basketball team held a slam dunk and three-point contest following a small intrateam scrimmage in front of a small crowd of media members.

Redshirt junior forward Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk dunks a lob pass on Oct. 26, 2022. Bosmans-Verdonk transferred to South Carolina from Illinois and is also attending law school in Columbia.

Freshman forward Gregory “GG” Jackson jumps to make a three-point shot on Oct. 26, 2022. Jackson is the highest ranked recruit in the South Carolina men’s basketball program history. Freshman forward Daniel HankinsSanford runs back on defense after making a three-pointer on Oct. 26, 2022. Hankins-Sanford was a three-start recruit from Charlotte, N.C.

Freshman guard Zachary Davis shoots a three-pointer during the three-point shot contest on Oct. 26, 2022. Davis was rated the fourth-best prospect in S.C. coming out of high school. Freshman guard Zachary Davis brings the ball up court on Oct. 26, 2022. Davis is one of the four freshman on head coach Lamont Paris’ first roster.

The garnet team walks on the court after a timeout during a scrimmage on Oct. 26th, 2022. This year’s men’s basketball roster will feature a healthy mix of transfers, seasoned veterans and freshmen.

The Gamecocks huddle up before an intrasquad scrimmage on Oct. 26, 2022. The men’s basketball team kicked off their 2022-2023 season on Nov. 8 against S.C. State.

Columbia native Ashlyn Watkins brings five-star skills to Gamecocks women’s basketball team

Peyton Butt

Freshman forward and five-star recruit Ashlyn Watkins is among basketball greats such as Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal in being named to the McDonald’s All-American game roster in 2022. She was also one of only three women in history to win the dunk contest at the game.

“It means a lot to me. This is a huge accomplishment,” Watkins said after the win. “I just want to show everybody that I’m one of the best in the world. A lot of famous people and great basketball players have been McDonald’s AllAmerican, and it’s just an honor for me to be one as well.”

Now, Watkins is gearing up in her hometown for her first season in garnet and black after choosing South Carolina over other top schools like Kentucky, North Carolina, Mississippi State, Clemson, Georgia and Louisville.

“I’ve never had a freshman that has come in as physically prepared for the rigors of a college basketball season like (Watkins) is,” head coach Dawn Staley said.

Despite all the offers, Watkins chose South Carolina not only for its location, but also for the program Staley has built.

“I knew that it was a winning program already, and I wanted to be a part of a winning program so that I can learn better and get the chance to be better. It also made it an easier decision because it was close to home,” Watkins said.

Watkins previously played at Cardinal Newman High School in Columbia. Adjusting to college life has been something new and different for Watkins, but being so close to home has made the adjustment easier.

“Knowing that I've got my family down the road, just a car ride away, that made it easier,” Watkins said. “It's faster, it's more physical, it's just all around different. In high school, I could chill and be lazy, but in college, you have to be on go every second of every day.” Watkins found her home within her home at South Carolina and said she is eager to get on the court with the team and make an impact. “Playing against good people in practice makes you better, so I know that I will get better when I go to USC,” Watkins said after signing with South Carolina. “It’s very nerveracking, but it’s exciting at the same time, so I’m very excited.” Watkins joins a stacked frontcourt group with stars like senior forward Aliyah Boston. “I just can't wait for people to throw lobs at Ashlyn, she's gonna throw it down,” Boston said. “Ashlyn has improved a lot, I mean she's a freak athlete, she can jump out of this world and she’s gotten so much better at communicating and finishing well.”

In her freshman campaign, Watkins has the opportunity to be part of South Carolina's quest to defend national title.

Photo: Calista Pushman

Photo: Freshman forward Ashlyn Watkins in the middle of a drill at the end of the first Gamecocks women’s basketball practice of the season on Sept. 28, 2022. She committed to South Carolina from Cardinal Newman High School.

South Carolina men’s basketball veterans prepare for upcoming season with new teammates, coach

Destini Austin

Aclean slate awaits the South Carolina men’s basketball team this year as a mix of veterans athletes, new players and new coaches prepare to begin their first season in Columbia.

Experience is vital to balance out the roster and bond the team together with a total of five transfer student-athletes and three new freshmen joining the team. Among the group of returning veterans this season is sophomore guard Jacobi Wright who also played in Columbia last year.

Wright has a unique perspective as a player experienced within the program but with his transition to the college game still fresh in his mind.

“Last year, I didn’t know what I was getting into,” Wright said. “So this year, for me, I came into it just wanting to better myself ... this year I’m just trying to ... help the team.”

Last season was Wright’s first playing on the South Carolina men’s basketball team. He along with the other returning athletes played under Frank Martin to begin their Gamecock careers.

After the dismissal of Martin, South Carolina’s head coach for the past ten years, in the spring, Gamecock fans will see Lamont Paris take over the program as the new head coach and lead the team.

Paris was previously the coach of the Mocs men’s basketball team at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. He’s been working with the Gamecocks since the summer. Veterans of the Gamecocks are adjusting to playing under a different coaching staff.

“I think with every coach, every system is going to be different anyways, so I wouldn’t say it’s either hard or easy to adapt to a system,” junior center Tre-Vaughn Minott said. “There’s gonna be some adjustments to be made, but I think that comes naturally with the game.”

Minott is one of the longest tenured Gamecocks on the roster having been a part of this team since 2020. Last season, Minott

Frank Martin

Gamecocks men’s basketball coach: 2012 - 2022

photo: Jerry Bowen

lamont paris

Gamecocks men’s basketball coach: 2022 - Present

photo: nola Dixon played 14 games and averaged 2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.

“I feel like all of us should be effective communicators to help carry our team and to push us to the top,” Minott said, giving insight to how he’s approaching the season.

After meeting the incoming coaching staff, Minott said he had a good feeling and decided to stay with the South Carolina basketball program. He also said he’s seen growth in this year’s freshman class.

“It shows every day they come into practice. They’re ready to work, ready to get down and dirty,” Minott said. “They’ve just been getting better.”

Guard Chico Carter Jr., a returning senior, decided to stay on the team instead of entering the transfer portal. Carter transferred in last offseason and played under Martin for a year. After seeing Paris’ interview, he decided to stay and continue playing with the Gamecocks. “He really just broke down to me that he has a plan for us,” Carter said. “I believed it and I stayed.”

New transfer graduate forward Hayden Brown will make his debut with the team this year. Brown is the oldest player on the roster but has already established himself among his new teammates and head coach.

“I’ve been very comfortable with (Paris) from the start,” Brown said. “I think we just have a trust that has come over time.”

Junior forward Ja’Von Benson, junior forward Josh Gray and senior guard Ford Cooper Jr. round out the athletes who have remained with the South Carolina program through the coaching change and roster turnover. Each player will take on a new role under Paris and upperclassmen will have to help their new teammates find their footing.