Martin pleased with six additions to 2016-17 Gamecock roster

Because of the large number of departures (seven and counting) from the 2015-16 team that matched a school record with 25 victories, a minimum of six new players will grace the South Carolina roster at the beginning of Frank Martin’s fifth season at the helm in Columbia.

Some of them could play major roles for the Gamecocks this coming season even though several prospects were signed late in the recruiting cycle after three freshmen - Eric Cobb, Raymond Doby, and Jamall Gregory – and sophomore Marcus Stroman exited the program prematurely.

The Gamecocks coaching staff quickly shifted into recruiting mode, yet was able to sign quality players, pleasing head coach Frank Martin.

“The situation just hit us and we had to go find guys,” Martin said recently during the spring Spurs Up tour. “Our staff was unbelievable. Their ability to know where guys were at and which guys fit who we are, to identify them within a short period of time and get them and convince them to come, that’s fun. It’s so much easier to recruit now than when we started because our attendance has increased.”

So far, USC has signed a half dozen prospects to letters of intent, with the most intriguing player possibly being 7-foot-1 center Khadim Gueye, a Senegal native from Victory Rock Prep in Bradenton, Fla.

Possessing a 7-foot-6 wingspan, Gueye is expected to give the Gamecocks a strong and much-needed presence in the lane in terms of rebounding and shot blocking.

“I want guys who are longer (wingspan) rather than just looking at them in a picture standing up,” Martin said. “He’s 7-6 and very competitive. He is a physically strong rebounder and defender that really protects the rim. Offensively, he is not there yet because he has been playing only three years. He is a lot like Chris Silva. He does some things naturally through athleticism and instincts. You can tell he is going to be a great player for us. He gives us our first true shot blocker we’ve had in our time here.

Two talented 6-foot-9 forwards join Gueye along the front line highlighted by Philadelphia native Sedee Keita, who attended the 22ft Basketball Academy in Greenville. Keita’s athleticism, mobility and competitiveness stand out, making him the perfect successor to Michael Carrera.

“He is tremendously athletic and runs like the wind,” Martin said. “He’s a 6-9 combo-forward who learned to play basketball as a 6-2 guard. He is multi-skilled with great hands and can really shoot. His ideal playing weight will be in the 230-235 range.”

The Gamecocks lost two Lithuanians to graduation (Laimonas Chatkevicius and Mindaugas Kacinas), but gain an Estonian in Maik-Kalev Kotsar, a member of his country’s U18 National team that competed at the 2014 FIBA European Championship.

Martin is counting on Kotsar to fill the void left by the two Lithuanians. Estonia, formerly part of the Soviet Union until declaring independence in 1991, is a small country of 1.33 million inhabitants located in northern Europe along the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland. The country shares borders with Russia and Latvia.

“He is very skilled and very competitive”, Martin said. “He has a very good frame. He just has to get a little more muscular. He will fit in nicely in replacing our departed front court players.”

Two the three guards signed by the Gamecocks are eligible to play in 2016-17. Kory Holden transferred from Delaware, where he scored 892 points in two seasons and averaged 17.7 points and 4-2 assists per game during the 2015-16 season, earning Second-Team All-CAA honors. He will sit out the upcoming season under NCAA transfer rules.

“Kory is a proven college player,” Martin said. “He has a chance to be very good.”

Rakym Felder (6-0, 180) attended Indian Land High School in Fort Mill as a freshman before relocating to New York City. Last season, he averaged 16 points, six assists and four rebounds as a senior at Lincoln High School in Brooklyn.

“Rakym is a tough-minded, playmaking guard who can score, pass and understands how to play,” Martin said. “He can really defend. He is as hard and competitive of a kid as I have seen in high school. South Carolina was his dream school because he has family in the state. He couldn’t wait for me to pick up the phone and call him. When I did, it was one of the easiest recruiting jobs of all-time because he wanted to be here so badly.”

JUCO transfer Hassani Gravatt (6-2, 180) was named the Georgia Class 4A Player of the Year as a senior at Alexander High School in Villa Rica, Ga. He attended Hargrave Military Academy before spending the 2015-16 season at Pensacola State College, where he averaged 16.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and was named the Panhandle Conference Player of the Year.

Gravatt has three years of eligibility remaining.

“He can really shoot,” Martin said. “His shooting ability is above average. He is very competitive, which are the kind of guys I like. I don’t like passive people. I want people that care and go out there and give it to you every day. That’s what Hassani is like.”

NOTES

-- Martin said Monday during the SEC’s post-NBA Draft summer teleconference that one game must be finalized before the 2016-17 non-conference schedule is completed and ready for release. At this point, we know the Gamecocks are traveling to New York City on two separate occasions for games against Syracuse (Nov. 26 at Barclays Center) and Seton Hall (Dec. 12 at Madison Square Garden). They are also playing at Memphis and South Florida in the back half of home-and-home series. The Gamecocks host Clemson at Colonial Life Arena.

-- Former Gamecock standout Michael Carrera will compete for the Miami Heat in both the Orlando and Las Vegas NBA Summer Leagues, his agent announced last Friday. Summer League play for Carrera begins in Orlando from July 2-8, and continues in Las Vegas from July 8-18.

-- Mark Whitehead, a 31-year veteran of college basketball officiating and five-time NCAA Final Four official, has been named SEC Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officials, replacing Jake Bell, who served in the role for three seasons.

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)