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basketball Edit

Martin announces signing class; Doby no longer with team

University of South Carolina head men’s basketball coach Frank Martin announced on Wednesday the signing of Rakym Felder (G - 6-0 – 180 – Lincoln High School – Brooklyn, N.Y.), Hassani Gravett (G – 6-2 – 180 – Villa Rica, Ga./Alexander/Hargrave Military Academy/Pensacola State College), Khadim Gueye (C – 7-1 – 220 – Senegal/Bradenton, Fla./Victory Rock Prep), Kory Holden (G – 6-2 – 180 – Salisbury, Md./J.M. Bennett/Delaware) and Maik Kalev-Kotsar (F – 6-9 - 220 – Estonia/Wichita, Kan./Sunrise Christian Academy).

The group will join the Gamecocks for the 2016-17 campaign, with Felder, Gueye and Kotsar having four years of eligibility, Gravett with three years and Holden with two (beginning in 2017-18). The group joins fall signee Sedee Keita.

“Given the circumstances at the end of the season, I couldn’t be happier with our incoming class,” Martin said. “The guys we’ve signed in the spring, coupled with Sedee Keita will give us a very talented group of guys. They all add a different dimension to our team.

“Unfortunately as our end-of-year meetings continued to happen, Raymond Doby and I agreed that a change of scenery would be good for him. Ray is a fine young man, and we wish him nothing but success.”

Below is a brief capsule and quote from Martin on each signee:

Rakym Felder (G - 6-0 – 180 – Lincoln High School – Brooklyn, N.Y.)- Labeled as a strong finisher at the rim and an excellent defender- 16 points, four rebounds and six assists as a senior at Lincoln High School- Three-star prospect according to 247sports.com- Played freshman season at Indian Land High School in Fort Mill, S.C.

Martin on Felder:“Rakym, who played at Lincoln High School in New York, gives you a tough-minded, play-making guard who can score, pass, who understands how to play and can really defend.”

Hassani Gravett (G – 6-2 – 180 – Villa Rica, Ga./Alexander/Hargrave Military Academy/Pensacola State College)- Played last season at Pensacola State College, earning Panhandle Conference Player of the Year accolades- Averaged 16.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game at Pensacola State, hitting 41.3 percent from the field- Was named the Georgia 4A Player of the Year following senior season at Alexander during high school career

Martin on Gravett:“Along with Rakym, Hassani brings multiple skills to our guard position with athleticism, play-making abilities and a shooting ability that is above average.”

Khadim Gueye (C – 7-1 – 220 – Senegal/Bradenton, Fla./Victory Rock Prep)- Labeled as a strong and physical center who runs the floor well- Three-star prospect according to ESPN and 247sports.com- Averaged 9.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game last season at Victory Rock Prep- Native of Senegal

Martin on Gueye:“Khadim gives us our first true shot blocker that we’ve had in our time here. He is a runner, physically-strong, rebounder and defender that really protects the rim.”

Kory Holden (G – 6-2 – 180 – Salisbury, Md./J.M. Bennett/Delaware)** will not be available for competition in 2016-17 season due to NCAA transfer rules- Transfer from Delaware, where he scored 892 points in two seasons- Averaged 17.7 points, and 4.2 assists during 2015-16 season, earning Second-Team All-Colonial Athletic Conference honors- 35 points vs. Boston College on Dec. 19, 2015, marked a career high - Named to the CAA All-Rookie Team following freshman campaign (2014-15)- During high school career, earned Bayside Conference Player of the Year honors during his junior and senior seasons- As a high school senior, averaged 29.7 points and 8.6 assists per game- ESPN labeled Holden the No. 2 available transfer at the time of his commitment to the Gamecocks

Martin on Holden:“Kory is a proven collegiate player, who, along with Hassani and Rakym, brings tremendous play-making abilities and a tremendous understanding of how to play.”

Maik-Kalev Kotsar (F – 6-9 - 220 – Estonia/Wichita, Kan./Sunrise Christian Academy)- Three-star prospect according to 247sports.com- Was a member of the Estonia U18 National Team that competed at the 2014 FIBA European Championship

Martin on Kotsar:“Maik is a big, strong, skilled, ultra-competitive young man that will fit in nicely in replacing our departed front-court players, Mindaugas [Kacinas] and Laimonas [Chatkevicius].”

From USC Media Relations

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