South Carolina Basketball: Ranking the top-12 point guards in Gamecock history

South Carolina basketball has had an up-and-down history. Some years of Gamecock basketball saw the garnet and black rank among the best teams in America, while other seasons saw significant struggles in Columbia. One constant for almost every good Gamecock team, though, was a top-of-the-line point guard.

The point guard position at Carolina has been led by a variety of different player archetypes. Some were true floor generals who orchestrated the offense and led with ease. Others scored the basketball as the primary perimeter ball-handler and playmaker. Still, other Gamecock point guards did a little bit of everything as they led their team from the 1-position.

But which Gamecock point guards were the best to ever suit up for the University of South Carolina?

Honorable Mention

Bruce Ellington: Bruce Ellington (2010-2013) arrived on campus at the University of South Carolina with a basketball scholarship but became a two-sport athlete when he joined the football team, as well. On the court, Ellington was an athletic freak at point guard, playing extremely tough defense and scoring off the dribble with a quick first step. He was a good player but had to end his career as he prepared for the NFL Draft.

Don Cox: A small guard from Greenville, South Carolina, Don Cox (1949-1952) was the first really good point guard for South Carolina basketball. Cox averaged almost five assists per game in his career and made an All-Southern Conference team despite struggling to score the basketball for most of his collegiate career.

Brent Price: Brent Price (1987-1989) was a good young player for the Gamecocks in the late 1980s. He could score and pass the basketball at a high level. However, Price elected to transfer to the University of Oklahoma the finish his career. He was good at Carolina but great at Oklahoma before moving on to the NBA as a draft pick of the Washington Bullets.

Bobby Cremins: The running mate of Gamecock legend John Roche, Bobby Cremins (1967-1970) was the less-famous of the point guards in Frank McGuire’s 2-point guard system. Never much of a scorer, Cremins used his bigger size to play tough defense and rebound when Roche was operating the offense. When it was Cremins’ turn to run the show, he often found Roche or fellow New York native Tom Owens on cuts to the basket. He was the team captain his senior season.

Gerald Peacock: Gerald Peacock (1980-1983) played three years for the Gamecocks and put up one of the best assist seasons in program history in his final season when he averaged 7 dimes per game. His junior year was a good passing one, as well, but Peacock was underwhelming as a sophomore and struggled to score the basketball for most of his career, averaging 6.5 points per game. He also struggled with turnovers at times as he had the ball in hands every possession.