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South Carolina Basketball – Projecting Next Season’s Starting Lineup

By Jacob Elsey

AUBURN, AL - JANUARY 22: Jermaine Couisnard #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drives around Allen Flanigan #22 of the Auburn Tigers during the second half of the game at Auburn Arena on January 22, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - JANUARY 22: Jermaine Couisnard #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drives around Allen Flanigan #22 of the Auburn Tigers during the second half of the game at Auburn Arena on January 22, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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NCAAM Basketball
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POWER FORWARD

STARTER – Alanzo Frink (5.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG)

RESERVE – Jalyn McCreary (4.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG)

RESERVE – Ja’von Benson

The power forward position will have two key returners from last year’s squad in junior Alanzo Frink and sophomore Jalyn McCreary, as well as newcomer Ja’von Benson.  You may also see a couple of names that are not on this list (Minaya, Bryant) slide here when the Gamecocks decide to go with a smaller lineup.  With that being said, Frink, McCreary, and Benson best fit the mold of a traditional power forward.

Frink was a little up and down last season, but definitely finished the year playing his best ball.  Over his last four games, Frink shot at an incredible 74% clip from the field, going 17 for 23 over that stretch.  In those games, he averaged 12 PPG and just under 5 RPG.  He’ll look to build upon that as he enters his third year on campus.

McCreary is another player that showed continued improvement as the year went on.  A true freshman last season, he was one of the more efficient shooters on the team, converting on 57% of his attempts.  He missed some time late in the year with a concussion, which cost him a game at Mississippi State and kept him limited the following contest against LSU, but he remained productive after returning to the court.  In his last four games, McCreary averaged 6 PPG coming off the Carolina bench.  He should certainly see his minutes increase next season following the loss of big man Maik Kotsar.

Benson is a 6’ 8” forward from Ridge View High School in Columbia, SC.  According to 247 Sports, he was the state’s fourth-best prospect in last year’s senior class, signing with the Gamecocks over the College of Charleston, UNC Wilmington, and others.  Benson will certainly get his opportunities as a freshman, but may find it hard to leapfrog Frink and McCreary on the depth chart.

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