South Carolina Basketball: Ranking the top-12 centers in Gamecock history
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Basketball’s No. 11 Greatest Center of All-Time:
Maik Kotsar
Maik Kotsar (2016-2020) was one of the best defensive centers in Carolina history. The big Estonian was capable of switching onto smaller players and was an elite help-side defender without being a big-time shot blocker. His defensive acumen led Kotsar to be a starter for four seasons, but he also developed into a useful offensive player.
Kotsar’s signature shot was his midrange jumper, and some of his biggest moments came as a freshman knocking down midrangers in the NCAA Tournament on the way to the Final Four. Kotsar was also a gifted ballhandler for a big man and utilized that to become an offensive engine as a senior who averaged almost 12 points per game and around 2.5 assists per contest while anchoring the defense for coach Frank Martin.