Martin 'extremely happy' about 2016-17 roster as summer workouts continue
Now that the previously suspended TeMarcus Blanton and Chris Silva are back in the good graces of the university and the South Carolina basketball program, Frank Martin knows the makeup of his roster for his fifth season in Columbia as coach of the Gamecocks.
Barring, of course, any last-minute addition should the coaches decide to utilize the 13th scholarship available to them.
Right now, Martin is prepared to forge ahead with 12 scholarship players and two walk-ons as USC attempts to surpass last season’s 25-9 record and earn a NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since 2004.
“I’m extremely happy with our roster right now,” Martin told reporters Thursday during a media session amid his annual kids basketball camp. “Our upperclassmen have been phenomenal. I’m excited for where we’re at. We’re still recruiting (for that 13th scholarship) to see if there is anything there worth taking. If not, we’ll go into the season with 12 guys and a couple of walk-ons and make the best of it.”
Martin said the Gamecocks have “three or four options” right now regarding the 13th scholarship, but could hold the scholarship for the 2017-18 season.
Blanton and Silva, two of five players suspended by USC before the start of the NIT in mid-March, will arrive on campus June 30 and attend classes during Summer Session II, Martin said.
“We’ll sit down and figure out the next step for them,” Martin said. “They have paid a price. I’m not into grudges or holding people down. They are in the good graces of our campus again. When they get here, we’ll start talking about basketball. If you speak basketball before life, you have a problem. We’ve figured the life part out, now we’ll start talking basketball again.”
The 2016-17 Gamecock roster is evenly balanced between six returning scholarship players and six newcomers, although one of the recent additions is Delaware transfer Kory Holden, who must sit out the upcoming season under NCAA rules.
Two newcomers – freshmen Rakym Felder (Brooklyn, NY) and JUCO transfer Hassani Gravett (Pensacola State College) – are scheduled to arrive on campus shortly for the start of Summer Session II. Seven-foot-1 center Khadim Gueye from Senegal was academically cleared to enroll and is now on campus.
Maik-Kalev Kotsar, a member of the Estonia U18 National team that competed at the 2014 FIBA European Championship, is dealing with a small stress fracture in his right foot and is currently wearing a boot. He lifts weights, but is not participating in individual workouts.
Holden is battling a “bad case” of tendonitis in his left knee and recent underwent a minor procedure to remove some of the scar tissue that had built up there, causing the discomfort. He will not begin workouts until September.
Before the procedure, Holden impressed Martin with his basketball skills during individual workouts.
“He’s not just good, he’s real good,” Martin said. “I’m excited about him.”
Rising seniors Sindarius Thornwell - USC’s top returning scorer (13.4 ppg) and rebounder (4.8 rpg) – Duane Notice and Justin McKie are the established team leaders, while P.J. Dozier has strengthened his body after hitting the proverbial freshman wall last season.
“Sinadarius, Duane and Justin, those three guys are playing as well as they ever have at this time during our teaching moments,” Martin said. “And P.J. has made an unbelievable jump physically. He looks like a brand new kid. He is refreshed. He looks like a freshman again, but he is so much more prepared.”
PROJECTED 2016-17 GAMECOCK BASKETBALL ROSTER (Scholarship players only)
TeMarcus Blanton, G (6-5, 215)
P.J. Dozier, G (6-6, 200)
Rakym Felder, G (6-0, 180)
Hassani Gravett, G (6-2, 180)
Khadim Gueye, C (7-1, 220)
Kory Holden, G (6-2, 180)
Maik Kalev-Kotsar, F (6-9, 220)
Sedee Keita, F (6—9, 215)
Justin McKie, G (6-4, 197)
Duane Notice, G (6-2, 218)
Chris Silva, F (6-9, 220)
Sindarius Thornwell, G (6-5, 215)
