After a subpar run through the nonconference portion of their schedule, Frank Martin‘s South Carolina team has made a huge turnaround. The Gamecocks’ freshmen have been key to the improvement this team has shown. South Carolina is 9-4 in the SEC. They are alone at fourth in the league, after beating the Ole Miss Rebels this week. The season seemed lost after a four game losing streak had Coach Martin’s squad sitting at 4-7 with a tough SEC schedule ahead of them. Not only has this team built hope for postseason play, but the Gamecocks’ freshmen have shown that the program has a bright future.

Gamecocks’ Freshmen Show Future Is Bright

South Carolina has had two freshmen in the starting line-up for much of the season. A.J. Lawson has started at guard every game this year. Forward Keyshawn Bryant was thrust into a bigger role when sophomore Justin Minaya was lost to a knee injury. Each of these first-year guys has shown the potential to be excellent players as they continue to learn and grow under Coach Martin. Alanzo Frink is the other freshman seeing playing time. He is more of a rotation player in the post, as injuries have hampered his availability for practice, hindering his development.

The play of the Gamecocks’ freshmen over the last two months have them in position to find their way into the postseason. In December, that was not something thought to be possible. The turnaround form disappointing nonconference to superb SEC play has been spearheaded by the growth of the youngsters.

Canadian Import

Lawson was a last minute addition to the South Carolina program. After a scholarship opened up late in the process, the young man from Toronto reclassified. He decided to forgo his senior season of high school to play in the SEC. It is hard to imagine where the Gamecocks would be without the production from their versatile Canadian guard. After scoring just six points in the first two league games, Lawson has been in double figures eight of the last eleven contests. Not only has he become more consistent in his production, but he has at times been South Carolina’s best player.

For the season, Lawson is averaging 13.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per contest. He leads the team in both assists and steals. The freshman is second in both scoring and rebounding, behind senior All-SEC big man Chris Silva. He has raised his scoring average to 15 per night in league play. His three-point shooting has become more consistent as the season has progressed, including going 12-17 from deep in the last three games. The 6’6″ guard has also been more aggressive driving to the basket lately. Most of his growing pains have been in dealing with the physicality of the college game. As he gets stronger, he will be extremely difficult to stop. The combination of athleticism, ball handling and ever-improving shooting have him playing as well as any freshman in the conference.

Eye Opener

Bryant hasn’t been quite as consistent as his Canadian teammate, but he has still made his impact felt. A good portion of that impact has been felt by the rim. The 6’7″ wing from Florida is an explosive athlete. He can finish above the rim as well as anyone in the country. The South Carolina program has not had a player with this type of explosive athleticism in a long time. Bryant burst onto the scene with 21 points in his first game in garnet and black. He reached double figures in just three other games during the nonconference portion of the schedule. His minutes and production have gone up since SEC play started. he has reached double figures seven times in the last 12 games.

Bryant scored 10 points in a victory over Ole Miss. This was after back-to-back poor performances. He had perhaps his best game for South Carolina in a victory over Arkansas. His 17 points were second to Lawson’s 24 in the comeback win. Bryant is still learning how to best use his skills. He is not a three-point shooter but does have good touch in the mid-range. His willingness to attack the basket has been his best attribute. He not only can finish high above the rim but has shown good balance and agility as well. South Carolina fans hold their breath when he drives into the paint, as they quickly learned that Bryant is a highlight waiting to happen.

Learning Curve

Each of the Gamecocks’ freshmen has raised the level of excitement around the program. The ceiling for Lawson and Bryant is high, and they have shown flashes of brilliance on the offensive end. The next step is using their instincts and athletic ability to develop into better defensive players. Coach Martin is a defense-first coach. He allows for some flexibility in his offensive structure as long as players are willing to buy in on the defensive end. Each of these exciting freshmen are still works in progress on defense. As they grow, learn and get stronger, they will move closer and closer to the defensive standard Coach Martin has for his team. Both have improved, but like most freshmen, they are still struggling with the consistency and physicality needed on each possession. They have the tools, now it’s just about learning and working.

Thin Group

Coach Martin had a large class of freshman set to impact this team when the season began. Due to an injury and ineligibility, two of the first year players have not been able to contribute much. T.J. Moss suffered a foot injury after only playing a few games, and Jermaine Cuisnard has been held out due to off-court circumstances. Both of these players will be back and ready to contribute next season. Frink has been slowed by multiple nagging injuries. He has flashed some ability at times. He scored six points in their midweek win over the Rebels. With a better understanding of Coach Martin’s system, he could be a solid post presence. South Carolina is down to 8 scholarship players, so he should see his role increase moving forward.

Finish Strong and Moving Forward

The Gamecocks’ freshmen duo of Lawson and Bryant will be crucial to this team moving forward. They need to play well down the stretch if South Carolina hopes to make it six consecutive winning seasons and get themselves back to the postseason. These two will also be looked at as pillars for this program to build round in the future. Lawson will likely make an all-conference freshman team this season. He has all the tools to develop into an All-SEC player and eventually a pro. Bryant’s explosiveness is unique, and that makes his upside extremely promising. As these two grow, the Gamecocks will have one of the better duos in the SEC to build their future around.

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