South Carolina Basketball – Best Moments of the 2019-20 Season
By Jacob Elsey
NEW FACES
The Gamecocks saw a number of new faces in key places as the 2019 season progressed. Early in the season, it was transfer Jair Bolden that took the reins, scoring in double figures 13 of the first 19 games. That included a huge game v. Virginia where he tallied a season-high 22 points.
We then saw the emergence of guard Jermaine Couisnard, who took over at the point when conference play began. The move allowed AJ Lawson and Bolden to play off the ball, and gave coach Frank Martin a player that he trusted to run the offense. The league got its first introduction to Couisnard after his buzzer-beater in an upset of the Kentucky Wildcats.
Behind Couisnard was fellow freshman point guard Trae Hannibal. Hannibal only scored in double figures twice this season, including the final game against Vanderbilt, but he made an impact in other areas. Defensively, he showed flashes of athleticism and finished 3rd on the team in steals despite playing in under 13 minutes a game. If he can cut down on fouls, he should see significant time on Frank Martin’s squad next year.
Jalyn McCreary is another freshman who saw limited minutes but showed promise as the season grew on. He scored in double figures twice, and proved to be deadly around the basket, shooting at a 57% clip from the field. That mark was good enough for 3rd on the team. He, too, needs to cut down on foul problems and improve his free throw shooting, but McCreary should see a substantial boost in playing time following Maik Kotsar’s departure.
The only freshman to shoot at a higher clip than McCreary was fellow big man Wildens Leveque. He finished the year first on the team, converting baskets on 61% of his attempts. His best game of the season came early on, when he scored 12 points on 4 for 4 shooting against Cleveland State. He and McCreary split time behind Kotsar last year, but Leveque should see his role grow in his sophomore season.