South Carolina basketball: Frank Martin expects opt outs to return in June

South Carolina basketball would get a huge boost from the return of two veterans.

South Carolina basketball coach Frank Martin made an appearance on Sports Talk SC yesterday to discuss where things stand ahead of the 2021 season in regards to NBA opt outs, transfers, and the status of injured players from last year’s squad. What Martin said has to give fans hope for the future, and excitement for the upcoming season.

Last year was obviously a disappointment, as the Gamecocks posted a 6-15 overall record and 12th place finish in the SEC. The team missed more than a month of action due to COVID, played shorthanded and short-staffed throughout the season, and struggled to build momentum on a team that many pegged as an NCAA Tournament contender.

The offseason was tenuous for Martin, as the roster saw exits from Jalyn McCreary, Trae Hannibal, TJ Moss, Trey Anderson, Justin Minaya, and AJ Lawson. The first five in that group have found new homes after entering the transfer portal, while Lawson plans to pursue a professional career. Like Lawson, two more contributors declared for the NBA Draft without hiring an agent, but it looks like they’ll be returning to Columbia sooner rather than later.

Jermaine Couisnard and Keyshawn Bryant both chose to test the NBA waters following their third seasons in the program, but since they opted not to hire agents, the two have the option to return to school should they not hear the feedback they’d hoped for from professional scouts. They have until June 19th to remove their names from NBA Draft consideration, which seemingly will happen, but there’s no reason for the two not to go through the process and gauge the areas where they need to improve their skillsets for the next level.

Things were beginning to look bleak for the South Carolina basketball program just a few months ago, but it appears as though coach Martin has righted the ship. The Gamecocks added four new transfers over the offseason, as well as a top 30 recruiting class, which should bring in an infusion of experience, youth, and talent for the 2021 campaign.

Should Couisnard and Bryant return, too, it would solidify a South Carolina roster that could have an opportunity to compete for a postseason bid.

Bryant was one of the team’s top scoring options last season (14.4 ppg), and notched career highs in points, shooting percentage, and rebounds as a junior. He’s the most athletic player on the roster and will be an immediate starter in next year’s lineup.

Couisnard will have an opportunity to run the point, as the guard has led the team in assists each of his two seasons on the floor. As a redshirt sophomore in 2020, he tallied 10.1 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per contest.

Frank Martin also updated the status of injured players on the South Carolina basketball roster.

While getting back Bryant and Couisnard is huge, coach Martin also gave some positive updates on players that battled through injuries last season. The two most notable updates surrounded big man Alanzo Frink and graduate transfer Seventh Woods.

Frink struggled with a medical condition last year, appearing in only three games. The forward is scheduled to meet for a medical exam next week, where he’s expected to be cleared to resume basketball activities. The news is huge for the South Carolina frontcourt, especially following the departure of Jalyn McCreary. Frink averaged 5.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore, and was slated to take on a larger role as a junior. If he’s able to return at 100%, he becomes one of the team’s top scoring options down low.

Guard Seventh Woods finds himself in a much different situation. He’s already played four seasons of college basketball, but does have the option to return due to the NCAA’s eligibility exceptions for the COVID impacted 2020 season. Woods could return for a fifth year, not counting towards the scholarship limits, but he may also decide it’s time to move on. Coach Martin is expected to meet with Woods this month to discuss his future.

One thing that may lead to him leaning towards a return to Columbia is a groin injury suffered in the Gamecocks’ final game of the regular season. The injury could hold him back from working out for professional teams, whether that be in the US or overseas. Should he return, he’d bring back 5.4 points per game, and another option at the point guard position. That decision will not be known for the next few weeks, though.

All in all, Gamecock fans have to be enthused with how coach Martin has assembled the roster, setting the team up for success in 2021. South Carolina should rebound nicely from last season’s disappointing performance and surprise a few folks around the SEC.