The Daily Gamecock: Switching Seasons 11/6/22

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Cover Design: Gillian Thomas Cover photos: Rachel barkoff, Kate Benn, Sydney Dunlap, james motter, ellis page, Kristen Pittman, alyssa rasp, michael sauls 1

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Letter from the managing editor: It’s time to switch seasons

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Letter to the editor: Grow with us in new chapter of men's basketball

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Letter to the editor: Women’s basketball team aiming to become back-to-back National Champions

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Gamecock swimming and diving’s 27 new additions look to prove they’re ‘here to stay’

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Preview: Gamecocks men’s basketball team adapts with new look for 2022 season

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Top recruit GG Jackson stays in Columbia, wants to uplift his hometown

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Carolina Basketball Band amplifies atmosphere at basketball games: ‘It’s electric’

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Modelo chili, homemade sauerkraut: A Gamecock’s guide to winter sports dining

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PHOTOS: Often Overlooked

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Aliyah Boston sets team, personal expectations high for senior year campaign

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South Carolina women’s basketball seniors reflect on historic run with Gamecocks: ‘Life goes in a blink of an eye’

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PHOTOS: Men’s basketball team hosts Garnet & Black Madness

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Columbia native Ashlyn Watkins brings five-star skills to Gamecocks women’s basketball team

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South Carolina men’s basketball veterans prepare for upcoming season with new teammates, coach

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INFOGRAPHIC: Basketball 101: Rules & Guidelines

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PHOTOS: 42 years of Cocky

Preview: South Carolina women’s basketball sets sights on back-toback national championships

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Incoming transfer players bring experience, leadership to Gamecock men’s basketball

Teammates, young basketball players look up to Laeticia Amihere

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INFOGRAPHIC: Women’s Basketball Schedule

Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk discusses balancing basketball, law school: ‘It’s a commitment’

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INFOGRAPHIC: Men’s Basketball Schedule 3

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Letter from the Managing Editor:

IT’S TIME TO SWITCH SEASONS Michael Sauls

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t’s almost time to switch seasons in Columbia with the football season slowly winding down and multiple winter sports quickly shifting into gear.

November brings winter sports along with colder weather, and Gamecock students and fans will be in sports heaven, cheering on Shane Beamer and the football team one day, and then doing the same in Colonial Life Arena for a basketball game the next.

Dawn Staley and the women’s basketball team start their national championship defense tour on Nov. 7 at home against East Tennessee State. A day later, Lamont Paris starts his first season as the men’s basketball coach when South Carolina takes on S.C. State.

But winter isn’t just for both Gamecocks basketball teams.

Countless other sports will be competing as well, including equestrian, swim and dive, track and field, tennis and more.

As Paris and other first-timers like GG Jackson prepare to begin their first seasons with their respective teams, and as the 2019 women’s basketball recruiting class is preparing to finish out their time in Columbia, I’m about to graduate and potentially leave the place I’ve called home my entire life.

With graduation just around the corner in December, I’ll look back fondly on all the experiences I had covering winter sports at South Carolina.

Driving a total of 36 hours to cover the women’s basketball team play in the 2021 Final Four game in San Antonio, Texas, watching South Carolina beat UConn for the first time and seeing students storm the court against Kentucky are memories I’ll look back on forever.

Many of you are probably right there with me when it comes to nerves for what comes next after college. I’m slightly terrified of the change, to be honest. But speaking to some of the members of the women’s basketball senior class — including Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, Brea Beal and Olivia Thompson — and hearing that they feel the same way comforted me.

While those student-athletes have lived their college lives in the national spotlight — and I certainly haven’t — it is cool to know that even they get a bit anxious when thinking about leaving Columbia.

But, before we leave, there’s a lot to celebrate. Turn the page to learn more about how our student athletes and sports teams are adapting to change.

Forever to thee,

Photo: Kailey Cota Michael Sauls, one of The Daily Gamecock’s managing editors, poses for a photo in front of Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C. Sauls has spent seven semesters with The Daily Gamecock and is graduating from USC in December.

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

GROW WITH US IN NEW CHAPTER OF MEN’S BASKETBALL Lamont Paris

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ear Gamecock Nation, It is an honor and privilege to be the 33rd head men’s basketball coach here at the University of South Carolina. My staff and I have been working diligently to prepare our team for the upcoming 2022-23 season. We could not be more excited to tip off on Nov. 8 at home against S.C. State.

This city, fan base, student body and university has welcomed us with open arms from day one, and we are going to do our best to make you proud.

I want you all to grow with us as we build and lay the foundation for this new chapter of Gamecock men’s basketball.

Winning on the road is one of the hardest things to do in college basketball. The student section is a massive part of helping influence that statistic, and I want to see The Cockpit rocking at all 16 games this season at Colonial Life Arena.

You are the heartbeat and can help create an atmosphere for opponents that is extremely difficult to play in. I’m going to challenge all of you to help create one of the toughest environments in the country.

Be early. Be loud. Be proud.

See you soon,

Photo: Michael Sauls 6

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM AIMING TO BECOME BACK-TO-BACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Dawn Staley

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e’re BACK! It feels great to officially be in basketball season again, and I’ll tell every University of South Carolina student what I told our team — we’re the only ones who get to start the season saying we have a chance to REPEAT as National Champions. The only NCAA Division I women’s basketball school in the COUNTRY that gets to say that … and it feels pretty good, right?

The other reason it feels great is because we’re back in Colonial Life Arena with our "FAMS." And, students, you’re a big part of that. The building’s energy is so much higher when you’re there cheering us on, making it hard on our opponents and pleading for a free Chick-fil-A sandwich — um, I mean opponent missed free throws — in the fourth quarter.

But, beyond the game, what’s special about being inside Colonial Life Arena is the way it brings our community together. I love looking into the stands and seeing all different types of people enjoying being together, sharing that game-day experience with each other.

It’s the same culture we’ve built within our team. We may not always agree with each other on every single topic, but we agree to be respectful in our differences and to come together to achieve a common goal ... you know, like lifting a trophy with confetti raining down around us. I know that decision to respect others is something that our players take beyond our team into the rest of their

lives, and I hope that energy spreads to every person who comes into Colonial Life Arena to support us.

We are excited about another season ahead, especially for our four-year seniors, that signing class of 2019. They came to Columbia with a goal of winning multiple national championships, and they could become the first Gamecocks to do that. We have some work to do to get there, but that group’s determination to create its own part of our program’s legacy is incredible to watch.

So, I hope every Gamecock will come out to see the last season of an incredible class of young women and our entire team as we try to do what no one else in the country can do this season — become back-to-back National Champions … because when we do you, you are part of that too!

Go Gamecocks!

Photo: Faith Worrell 7

Gamecock swimming and diving’s 27 new additions look to prove they're 'here to stay' Camryn Dixon

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he South Carolina swimming and diving team added 22 freshmen and five transfer athletes to its 2022-2023 roster.

As head coach Jeff Poppell and his staff take on their second year at South Carolina, they face the challenge of managing a young roster while holding the team to a high standard.

“We’re trying to climb the ladder of the SEC,” Poppell said. “We don’t get a gimme just cause we’re young. The expectations are still the expectations.”

The reason why the Gamecocks have so many new additions is due to increased roster turnover and Poppell’s methodology when it comes to molding the program.

“There’s two ways to build a program,” Poppell said. “You gotta develop the athletes you have ... and then at the same time, recruiting is pretty big.”

With the abundance of new faces, Poppell and the team have looked to upperclassmen to show leadership.

Senior swimmers Hanna Barton and Taylor Steele and graduate diver Brooke Schultz were named captains on the women’s side. Senior swimmers Patrick Groters and Guy Gropper and junior swimmer Jackson Davis were named captains for the men’s team.

Poppell said the captains have done well to provide direction and support for the young squad so far.

The first year of college is a transitional time for student-athletes. Freshman swimmer Amy Riordan said 5 a.m. wakeups and a competitive team environment are all challenges she’s faced in transitioning from club to college swim alongside an intense training regimen.

Photo: Rachel Barkoff The USC and LSU men’s swim teams get into the starting position on the block at the start of the 200-yard freestyle relay on Oct. 8, 2022. The Tiger men’s swim and dive team beat the Gamecocks 157-143.

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“It is definitely way more volume,” Riordan said. “The practices are two times as long and hard as my club team, but it has definitely made me stronger and a better swimmer.”

Freshman swimmer Jose Castro said learning time management has been a challenging part of adjusting to life as a college student-athlete. Between class and practice, he found himself having little time for anything else. Despite this challenge, he emphasized how much the team has helped him with his transition and even refers to his upperclassmen as his “older brothers.”

“I feel like I’m home,” Castro said. “I think a big part of it is the close relationships the guys on the swim team and dive team have.”

The freshman had the opportunity to showcase their abilities during South Carolina’s first meet of the season against West Point on Sept. 23. Castro earned SEC Men’s Freshman of the Week honors after winning the 500-yard freestyle in his first meet as a Gamecock, earning a time of 4:31.46.

Riordan was another standout. She won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:49.95 to contribute to South Carolina’s 204-88 victory over Army on the women’s side.

“They’re not going to have a choice but to make a big impact for us,” Poppell said. “Just under half of our team is brand new, so they’re a little bit under fire as freshmen, having to come in and play big roles.”

The coaching staff has also undergone some changes. The Gamecocks announced Michael Wright as the new head diving coach on Oct. 10, after the previous coach, Dale Schultz, retired.

As the Gamecocks continue on with its season, the young team said it is excited and focused for the year ahead. Riordan said a few of the team’s goals are to land among the top eight in the SEC, compete well at the SEC Championships in February and send as many student-athletes as they can to the NCAA Tournament in March.

“We’re trying to set the tone (for) the freshman class,” Castro said. “We’re a big class, but we’re here to stay and to change the program as well.”

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PREVIEW: GAMECOCKS MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM ADAPTS WITH NEW LOOK FOR 2022 SEASON nathan baakko The South Carolina men’s basketball team’s look has changed drastically since last season. With a brand-new coaching staff and revamped roster, the Gamecocks will get a fresh start as the 2022-2023 season gets underway.

A new coach brings a new playbook and head coach Lamont Paris said he thinks the team has adapted to the new system well.

“Anytime you’re implementing a whole new system and a change in philosophy, there are a lot of challenges that come with that,” Paris said. “So, I really like where this group is in terms of trying to get accomplished the things that we value ... they are really enjoying themselves and being around each other every day at practice.”

Paris has a few goals for his team this season, starting with growth.

“I think even in the best teams that I have ever coached, that’s been a thing. Rarely have they come out of the gates really fast, and then didn’t really have to get much faster,” Paris said. “My calling card and trademark has been teams have gotten better. Some had no choice but to get better.”

Illinois transfer and redshirt junior forward Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk is someone who assistant coach Tim Buckley thinks can help kickstart that growth.

“He’s got an explosiveness about him as far as running and getting to the ball,” Buckley said. “As a facilitator, I think he’s a guy that he can get to places and then when he makes good decisions and make those kicks, he can get other guys easier shots.”

Graduate forward Hayden Brown is another experienced player the staff already sees carving out a role on the team. While he was at The Citadel, Brown became the seventhleading scorer in program history and averaged nearly a double-double last season.

“He puts so much pressure on you physically, to either follow him or, if you try to contest a shot or whatever, he’s gonna be aggressive,” Bronson said. “So, that’s what we want from him. So, we’re hoping as we get into this and we get into league play, that doesn’t really change too much.”

Freshman forwards GG Jackson and Daniel Hankins-Sanford and freshman guard Zach Davis — nicknamed the “Three Stooges” or “Three Amigos” — are already receiving high praise from Paris.

“They’re talented,” Paris said. “We already know and have talked about GG, but Daniel is one of the strongest, most physically advanced freshmen I’ve ever been around ... And then Zach’s probably shown the most improvement possibly of anyone on the team from the day that we got here.”

Paris said he loves the young group and is excited to see what they’ll look like come January.

The Gamecocks will have a good opportunity to mesh prior to conference play, likely avoiding ranked matchups and participating in the Charleston Classic tournament.

South Carolina will face Colorado State in the opening round of the tourney and could go on to play other teams such as Penn State, Furman, Davidson and Virginia Tech.

The two toughest non-conference games outside of the Charleston Classic will be road matchups at Georgetown and UAB. Despite neither of the two being ranked, Georgetown can be a tricky place for opponents to play and UAB has been one of the better mid-major programs in recent years.

The Blazers are coming off of a 27-8 s e a s o n where they went 16-2 at home.

The Hoyas are coming off a less impressive s e a s o n , finishing 6-25, but return the Big

East conference tournament’s most outstanding player.

UAB received a vote in the top-25 AP preseason poll. Meanwhile, South Carolina received no votes and was picked to finish last in the SEC media poll.

Of course, a lot of attention this season will be placed on Jackson. The 17-year-old was the consensus top-ranked player in the 2023 recruiting class and sixth-best when he reclassified to 2022.

Jackson said he sometimes still feels like a high school senior. He knows he won’t get his way on the court as easily as he’s used to, but he’s getting the hang of things.

“My game has been starting to translate.

My shot has definitely improved a lot, my ball handling,” Jackson said. “I guess I’m not a traditional big anymore ... I’m getting rebounds, pushing the ball up, inbounding the ball to me. I’m starting offense sometimes.”

Jackson said he doesn’t know how long he’ll play in college but does know he’s excited to play for his city.

“I just want to be able to lift the city, the way that all of y’all have uplifted me,” Jackson said.

Illustration: Kaitlyn Gough

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Top recruit GG Jackson stays in Columbia, wants to uplift his hometown T Jacob Phillips

his summer, South Carolina freshman forward GG Jackson was the nation’s No. 1 basketball recruit in the class of 2023. He was preparing for his high school senior season in Columbia and committed to play college basketball at the University of North Carolina.

Now, Jackson is preparing for his first season as a college athlete in his hometown after he made the decision to reopen his recruitment on July 14 and commit to South Carolina.

“I’m right down the street from my home,” Jackson said. “I live like 20 minutes from here. I can always go home and get a warm cooked meal. I just want to be able to uplift the city the way that (the city) uplifted me.”

The Gamecocks first offered Jackson a scholarship in December 2020, courtesy of then-coach Frank Martin.

Soon after Martin was fired, Jackson committed to the Tar Heels, and the Gamecocks hired Lamont Paris to be the next coach.

While Paris tried to convince Jackson to rethink his decision, Jackson said it was “going through one ear and out the other.”

“I already had my mind made up on where I thought I was gonna end up,” Jackson said.

Jackson said his decision to become the first player to decommit from North Carolina in the modern recruiting era was an emotional process for him. To aid him, he called on one of his close mentors and the founder of his AAU team, NBA veteran Chris Paul.

“I was crying on the phone,” Jackson said. “I didn’t know what to do or where my mind was. Me and my family, we came together, and we prayed for a lot of success

Photo: nola dixon Freshman forward Gregory “GG” Jackson jumps to make a three-point shot on Oct. 26, 2022. Jackson played on the garnet team during the men’s basketball team’s Garnet and Black Madness event

and for God to guide me in the right direction, and I feel like he definitely has.”

Jackson reclassified to the class of 2022 and verbally committed to South Carolina on July 24. He signed his letter of intent the next day and officially became the Gamecocks’ highest-rated basketball recruit in program history.

Since his arrival, Jackson has had to adjust to not only college basketball, but life as a college student.

“I don’t have my mom, my dad anymore to knock on the door to say, ‘Oh, wake up you got school in the morning,’” Jackson said. “Overall just getting my body used to the college life. Having to

lift every day, having to eat right because I didn’t really know how much eating played a role.”

On the court, Jackson has had his share of growing pains. He said the game is sped up, and it’s more difficult for him to get to the basket. However, he has been a fast learner, according to Paris.

“I felt like he had a capacity to learn, his capacity to learn was high, and I was right. I was prophetic,” Paris said. “He’s the type of guy, as a coach there are a couple other things that you say ‘hey one day as a group we’ll be able to do this,’ ... and he’ll start doing some of those things on his own in five-on-five play.”

Paris also praised Jackson for his willingness and ability to pass.

He said he always expects Jackson to improve and would like to see him improve his physicality on both sides of the ball.

Teammates have lauded Jackson’s abilities since his arrival.

Sixth-year forward Hayden Brown highlighted the ambition Jackson plays with as a strength.

“I am seven years older than GG,” Brown said. “He’s 17, I’m 24.

And so it’s just cute. … I get to see that ambition all over again. It’s kind of like a reflective moment for me and, for me, kind of like big brother, I’m like, ‘Wow this is my little bro.’”

Jackson has bonded with fellow freshman guards Zachary Davis and Daniel Hankins-Sanford. The three have been together almost every day and are adjusting to the college experience together.

“Since we’ve been here all of us have been with each other every day working out, … riding, talking to girls, doing all that type of stuff,” Davis said.

The regular season is set to tip off on Nov. 8. Jackson said he has some nerves about suiting up in garnet and black for the first time.

“I’m definitely still scared for my very first game,” Jackson said.

“I don’t know how it’s gonna be.

I don’t know what the results gonna be. I’m definitely praying that God allows me to play the best game that I can and to help us get the victory.”

Jackson said he hopes the fans stick by him and the team, whatever the results are.

“Stick with us, no matter the ups and downs, because it may not be a perfect season,” Jackson said. “Just believe in me and believe in my teammates that we can get it done.”

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Carolina Basketball Band amplifies atmosphere at basketball games: ‘It’s electric’ emmy ribero & lauren larsen

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he South Carolina women’s basketball team wrapped up its second championship season in five years among a cacophony of horns, drums and chants at the Target Center in Minneapolis this April.

While the crowd roared and the buzzer sounded, the Carolina Basketball Band filled the arena with “Step to the Rear,” USC’s fight song, a signal of the team’s victory. The Carolina Basketball Band transformed the arena into an energizing environment for the women’s basketball team’s second championship win.

Back in Columbia, the atmosphere in Colonial Life Arena is “electric,” according to second-year criminology and criminal justice student Reed Wentz.

The band leads chants with its music, uniting the fans and team with a constant rhythm and beat. Jay Jacobs, the band’s director, said he enjoys what he does because he likes seeing the students getting excited about their music.

“That’s the best part for me, just to be able to kind of turn around and go, ‘Yeah, they’re enjoying this, they’re having fun.’

And that’s what it’s all about,” Jacobs said. “That interaction with the crowd, with the other students that are there, with the teams and the coaches.”

The band’s music contributes a lot to the energy of the crowd at basketball games, especially when crucial plays are happening, Wentz said.

“A lot of the energy does come from (the band) because even when there isn’t a large audience,” Wentz said. “We still have enough sound and presence to actually make an impact on stuff. Especially free throws.”

The atmosphere does not only unite students, the music also creates a community with everyone at the game.

“They love the teamwork,” Jacobs said. “That goes with the cheerleaders and Carolina Girls at basketball and just being part of that whole atmosphere-generating group of people.”

Jacob creates an atmosphere of inclusivity to inspire the band to continue to achieve. Bryan Wolf, a third-year public health student and trumpet player, emphasizes Jacobs’ encouragement to make all band members feel included.

“I think he does a lot to help make everyone feel welcome in the band,” Wolf said. “He’ll call you by your first name. It’s kind of crazy because it’s like 350 people, and you’re like, how does he know me?” Wolf said.

The environment of the band is not what drew Wolf to the band, however. At an SEC school, band members may

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feel motivated to be able to watch and play for the game, Jacobs said.

“I knew I wanted to do marching band in college,” Wolf said. “In high school growing up, I loved college sports, and I really liked basketball and March Madness. So it’s kind of a no-brainer.”

Wolf is not alone in his interest in sports drawing him to join the band. Many other students join the basketball band to be a part of the electric atmosphere of Colonial Life Arena.

“The students come in with a lot of enthusiasm, and I think, like everybody, students have their own favorite sports and things, so a lot of them are really drawn to basketball and want to be there,” Jacobs said.

Wentz was one of the band members who were able to attend the Final Four last year. The trip allowed the band and the team to get to know each other while fighting for the championship.

“The women’s team in general, we had a really good bond with them,” Wentz said. “We were actually in the same hotel as them, so on our off hours, you’d be playing pool or Uno with them.”

Playing for the band has opened opportunities for the students that they would not have already had such as being in the stands on such a monumental day, Wentz said.

“This past year, where we actually got to travel and it was a full season and our women’s team winning the national championship,” Wolf said. “It was kind of a dream come true.”

photo: sara yang Photo: A member of the South Carolina basketball band holds their instrument during a game against Stony Brook on Nov. 9, 2018. The basketball team’s band is a staple of South Carolina basketball.

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Modelo chili, homemade sauerkraut: A Gamecock’s guide to winter sports dining stephen pastis & richie holmberg

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hose dreaming of crushed Busch cans and mini-corndogs accompanied by the sweaty pageantry of SEC football don’t have to wait another year for sporting treats.

As Gamecock football is swept away by winter winds, Saturdays in South Carolina can mean more than a Cock Hockey mouthful of cold hotdog and hockey rink slush or $13 beers with Marco’s pizza during the best women’s college basketball games in the country.

The Daily Gamecock has a few recommendations for anyone who is looking for a recipe to slow-simmer while sitting in your fleece and watching Gamecock teams at home, or the best dining ambiance to spend a few hours screaming at the silver screen with friends.

illustrations: sydney lako 16

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PREVIEW: SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SETS SIGHTS ON BACKTO-BACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS jacob phillips

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he South Carolina women’s basketball team’s quest for back-to-back NCAA championships began Nov. 7 when the team hosted East Tennessee State.

The Gamecocks return four starters from its 2022 national champion team, including the reigning national player of the year, senior forward Aliyah Boston. Boston earned numerous awards and accolades last season and is hoping to repeat that success this year.

“That was really incredible for me, and I’m just so thankful to God for it,” Boston said. “I think it’d be cool to do it again.

Every single thing all again.”

All-SEC second-team guard Zia Cooke is also back for her senior year. Last season, Cooke averaged 11 points, two rebounds and two assists per game.

While Cook does have her sights set on a national title, she said she is taking this season one game at a time.

“For me, I like to just worry about what’s in front of me at the moment,” Cooke said. “The national championship is months from

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now, literally, like there’s no point in even thinking about it.

I just want to focus on each and every team that steps before that, we got an SEC championship we lost last year, we got to come back and win that.”

The team added a few new players in the offseason, including two freshmen from the class of 2022. Five-star guards Talaysia Cooper and Ashlyn Watkins are both South Carolina natives and 2022 McDonalds All-Americans.

“Ashlyn is an incredible athlete. She’s super smart, like she doesn’t move like a freshman,” head coach Dawn Staley said. “I just think the sky is the limit for her.”

Staley said Cooper has been up and down so far, but she is “super talented” and hopes she will find a way to contribute this year.

“Talaysia is just in a different position. Sometimes we’re playing her at the point, that’s hard as a freshman,” Staley said. “Sometimes we got (her) on the wing so we’re giving her a lot of responsibility.”

South Carolina also brought in transfer graduate student guard Kierra Fletcher. Fletcher previously played at Georgia Tech where she averaged 13 points, six rebounds and four assists last season.

Redshirt freshman guard Raven Johnson will make her return this season after missing nearly all of last year due to injury. In the team’s second game last year, Johnson tore her ACL and missed the remainder of the season.

One question South Carolina faces before the season tips off is who will take the starting point guard role.

Last season, current Indiana Fever point guard Destanni Henderson held the lead guard duty. Her absence has created a hole the team is still figuring out how to fill.

“It’s hard to gauge where we are because we don’t have a full-time point guard,” Staley said. “Zia plays it, but the

to have sustained success,” Staley said. “Our program is in a good place where we’re able to attract some of the best talent in the country, and it starts there.”

Editor’s note: Michael Sauls contributed to the reporting in this article.

strength at what she does has been always on that two-guard slot.”

Despite these concerns, Staley is pleased with the steps multiple players took over the offseason.

“I see everybody has gotten better,” Staley said. “We asked them to come back in better shape — with more mental strength, with more physical strength — and they’ve done that. So now it’s on us to figure out what combinations we can play to play all of them.”

South Carolina’s returning talent, plus its new players, make the team the overwhelming favorite to win it all entering the season.

The Gamecocks were unanimously ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP poll, becoming the third team to ever be ranked preseason No. 1 three straight years. Caesars Sportsbook has the Gamecocks’ odds of going back-toback at +160 with Stanford coming in second among national title favorites at +400.

Even with the odds in their favor, Staley acknowledged the team can’t start slow and still has a ways to go health-wise.

The team faces a tough schedule that will test it early in the season. Four of the team’s first five games are on the road, including visits to No. 17 Maryland in the second game of the season and No. 2 Stanford in game four. In total, the Gamecocks are facing six preseason top-25 teams this year.

South Carolina will also look to recapture the SEC title, which it fell short of securing last year. Both of the team’s only two losses last season came in SEC play.

“This league prepares you to win national championships,” Staley said. “We know that every time we step on the floor, any of us can lose to any of us, so it just feels like the norm in SEC play.”

While discussions about the potential for the Gamecocks to be the next women’s basketball dynasty increase, Staley said the team is not a dynasty yet and sustained success with multiple championships is key.

“To be a dynasty, I do think you got to have a little back-to-back championship in you. I do think you have

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Teammates, young basketball players look up to Laeticia Amihere Griffin Goodwyn

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enior forward Laeticia Amihere understands the importance of looking up to role models, especially for freshmen who are adjusting to life as college basketball players.

“As a freshman, we were able to lean on (former Gamecock women’s basketball players Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and Tyasha Harris) and being able to pick their brains, so us being that for them as well is really important,” Amihere said during a media availability in December 2021.

In her four years at South Carolina, she has become a role model for her teammates in Columbia and beyond. She is an ambassador for the sport of basketball and an advocate for equal opportunities in communities across the globe.

Amihere arrived at South Carolina as the No. 10 overall recruit in the class of 2019, according to ESPN. Since then, she has won a national championship,represented the Canadian national basketball team, and has served on committees at USC and the NCAA to help enhance the student-athlete experience.

Before playing a minute of college basketball, though, Amihere had to overcome injuries that ended both her junior and senior seasons of high school early.

She has filled in to play multiple positions when her teammates have been forced to miss time due to their own injuries. That versatility was put on display in a 2021 matchup against Kansas State, where she tallied 11 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and five blocks as

a “point forward”, demonstrating a unique set of skills that have impressed senior guard Brea Beal.

“Throughout the years being put in different positions (and) being able to dominate those positions, I think it’s just amazing to watch,” Beal said.

Amihere said she relies on her faith and advice from head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley whenever she experiences hardship in her life.

“Just trusting in God because, obviously, my plans, if I had to choose, would be a lot different than what it is right now,” Amihere said during a press conference ahead of the Final Four in April 2021. “And I remember when I got injured, (Staley) said, ‘This is your part of your testimony, and you’re going to have a great story to tell.’ So after seeing that, it just put a smile on my face, and it gave me a lot of hope.”

Those hardships inspired her to create a non-profit organization, Back to the Motherland. The non-profit provided basketball gear and hosted a free basketball camp for young girls in the Ivory Coast, and she hopes she can hold events such as these annually.

“I play basketball every day … and now I get injured for six to nine months, and it’s like, ‘Who am I? What do I have to give to the community?’” Amihere said in a video posted on her nonprofit’s Instagram page. “In the Bible, it talks about Jesus going back as a servant … the highest person, he goes back to his community, he takes the people that are undeserving, and he takes those people under his wing, so that’s what I want to do.”

Amihere said she especially wants to help players whose families cannot afford to pay for recreational basketball, something she experienced herself when she was younger.

Senior guard Zia Cooke said Amihere’s faith and dedication to the community have served as a source of inspiration for her and her teammates.

“She’s a leader in a lot of ways off the court — dealing with the community,” Cooke said. “She’s taught us a lot (and) put a lot of us under her wing when it comes to the spiritual side, so she’s a blessing.”

Head coach Dawn Staley said that Amihere will have to face one of her toughest tests this upcoming season, as she is dealing with the loss of her brother, who passed away in August.

“She’ll carry what’s happened to her throughout the entire season,” Staley said. “Obviously, he was near and dear to her … and

a big part of her is no longer with her, so we’ll definitely have to keep an eye on her to make sure that we’re covering her with prayers and hoping she’s in a great mental state throughout the season.”

Beal said she was also inspired by Amihere’s ability to push through adversity without it affecting her demeanor or her style of play, which gives her hope for when she experiences similar hardships.

“To see her go out to practice and act like nothing’s wrong and to continue to be the player she’s always been, it is encouraging because we all go through our battles, but it’s how you handle them, and I think she’s handled them so well,” Beal said.

Editor’s note: Michael Sauls contributed to the reporting in this article.

Illustration: Julia Lako 21

Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk discusses balancing basketball, law school: ‘It’s a commitment’

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n his fourth year as a student-athlete, redshirt junior forward Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk has taken pride in prioritizing the “student” in studentathlete throughout his collegiate career.

He’s entering this season both as a newcomer to the men’s basketball team and a student at the University of South Carolina School of Law. “It’s a commitment. I think just being a student-athlete is hard,” Bosmans-Verdonk said. “Don’t get me wrong, every school does such a great job with their athletes to make it doable for us, but it’s not easy.”

Bosmans-Verdonk played basketball, handball, soccer and swimming competitively while growing up in Belgium, but he said school was always his main priority.

“The way I was brought up, school was always very important,” Bosmans-Verdonk said. “I had to tell my mom, my dad that I was going to take care of my school business, or else they would’ve never let me come to the States.”

He studied psychology at the University of Illinois and said he did not consider going to law school until he was granted extra years of eligibility due to COVID-19 and previous injuries at Illinois.

“It was only when I figured out that ‘look I got this extra eligibility because of my injuries, because of COVID, and I’m on track to graduate early, there’s going to be some opportunity there to further my academic career,’ and I wanted

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Griffin Goodwyn

Photo: nola dixon Redshirt junior forward Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk speaks about his upcoming season to members of the media on Oct. 12, 2022. Bosmans-Verdonk transferred to South Carolina from Illinois.

to take full advantage of that,” Bosmans-Verdonk said.

After earning his undergraduate degree in just three years, Bosmans-Verdonk looked to continue his studies at a school that allowed him to pursue success on the basketball court and a career in law.

“When it was my time last summer to enter the portal ... one of the priorities for me was finding a coaching staff that would be willing to work with me and be lenient in that way — allowing me to do both,” Bosmans-Verdonk said.

He said positive visits with men’s basketball head coach Lamont Paris and the dean of the School of Law, William Hubbard, were motivating

(chemistry), and I think everyone’s found their way here off the court, and I think that allows us to even be better on the court,” BosmansVerdonk said. “I think the team’s looking very good. We got some experienced guys, we got hungry guys … but we got a good mix.”

Assistant coach Tim Buckley said he was impressed with BosmanVerdonk’s intelligence and outgoing personality.

“It’s really hard for me to talk with him or relate to him because he’s so much smarter than I am,” Buckley said. “What an engaging personality, really sharp guy, very introspective.

He thinks things through. He’s great to talk with outside of basketball.”

The two frequently have conversations about Belgium, Bosmans-Verdonk’s family and his experiences at Illinois, where he was coached by one of Buckley’s colleagues from the latter’s time at Ball State, Buckley said.

Assistant coach Tanner Bronson marveled at BosmansVerdonk’s ability to excel in the classroom, as well as on the court, and recognized his unique status as a law student playing college basketball.

“He’s a really mature kid.

He’s really focused. He’s a guy that’s in the gym all the time,” Bronson said. “He’s a law student here ... it just shows how serious he is in every aspect of his life.”

factors in his decision to come to South Carolina.

“As soon as I took my visit, Coach Paris took me to the law building, and I had a great visit there. The dean of the law school is amazing, and it’s like both sides are very willing to allow me to do this, so super greatful to be able to be in this position,” Bosmans-Verdonk said. “Both things have to be perfect, and I think I was so lucky to be able to find it.”

Bosmans-Verdonk has adjusted well to life in Columbia after spending his first few months getting to know his teammates and expressed optimism for the new season.

Editor’s note: Jacob Phillips “As soon as we got here, contributed to the reporting in we kind of started building this article.

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Often Overlooked Jalen Miller & Jerry Bowen

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everal club and college sports teams are often overlooked by fans amid the hype surrounding sports like football and basketball.

While waving rally towels around in Williams-Brice Stadium or cheering on our top-ranking women’s basketball team may be a must for South Carolina sports fans, attendance is on the rise for smaller production sports like Cock Hockey.

With a highly competitive club sport like Cock Hockey and a variety of collegiate sports teams like South Carolina’s tennis, swim and dive and track teams, the university offers a largew variety of entertaining matches and tournaments that sports fans can root for all winter long.

Photo: Kailee Kokes Members of the South Carolina track team compete in a distance event at the South Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex during the Carolina Challenge on Feb. 2, 2020.

The South Carolina track and field team meets feature a variety of events including distance running, pole vault and high jumps.

Photo: Brodie Perry Senior IM swimmer Luke DeVore fires himself up before his race against the LSU Tigers on Oct. 8, 2022. The women’s swim and dive team won 161.5-138.5 while the men’s swim and dive team lost 143-157.

Photo: esha ahir Members of the South Carolina Club Hockey team attempt to power past defenders on the Georgia Club Hockey team on Sept. 23, 2022. Cock Hockey defeated Georgia 3-1.

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Photo: ashleigh dimler

Then-junior Daniel Rodrigues reaches for the ball at the Carolina Tennis Center on Sunday, March 20, 2022. The Gamecocks beat the Ole Miss Rebels 6-1.

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ALIYAH BOSTON SETS TEAM, PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS HIGH FOR SENIOR YEAR CAMPAIGN lawson murrell

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ot even an hour after winning the 2022 women’s basketball national championship in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 3, Aliyah Boston was asked if the triumph would affect her mindset moving forward and what her goals were for the next season.

Without hesitation, Boston responded, “Same as this year.”

An eventful off-season followed for the forward, who is now in her senior year at South Carolina. Boston made appearances for NIL deals, went home to the U.S. Virgin Islands and joined the U.S. women’s national basketball team for a training camp in Las Vegas.

Boston was recently voted Preseason SEC Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Preseason All-SEC First Team. She also landed a unanimous nod to the AP Preseason All-American list, among several other awards.

If Boston continues to be the best player on the best team in the country, she will likely continue as SEC Player of the Year after winning the award last season. If she makes the All-SEC First Team as predicted by the media, then it will mark her fourth consecutive season being named to the ceremonial squad.

“I think with the awards last year, that was really incredible for me,” Boston said. “I’m just so thankful to God for it, but I think it would be cool to do it again.”

Gearing up for another season comes with its challenges, especially following such a successful year

for Boston individually and the South Carolina team as a whole.

Becoming complacent is one of Staley’s concerns for the squad.

“Now that we’ve won a national championship ... for the coaches it is how you keep them challenged in a way that has them thinking ‘win another one.’ They’re built like that but you still have to challenge them,” Staley said in September.

Boston and her teammates will work to avoid resting on their laurels by focusing on consistently improving and helping each other with the little things, she said.

“Fine-tuning, making sure that we know what coach wants from us and just making sure we’re able to share that with the freshman,” Boston said.

Finding the drive within to be better each day coming off a consensus National Player of the Year season seems like a tall task from an outsider’s perspective. But Boston was quick to point out shooting the three, her “outside game” and “beating people off the dribble” as areas in which she wants to improve.

“I definitely think I can improve all-around,” Boston said.

Cooke, Boston’s teammate since their freshman year, is more experienced with beating people off the dribble, but she left no question about Boston’s abilities when she spoke about her fellow senior following a women’s basketball practice.

“Aliyah is going to do her thing, of course,” Cooke continued.

“Aliyah, she’s just the top dog. That’s just period, point blank.”

Boston knows how much dedication is required to play each game with the goal of winning the national championship in the back of her mind. “ W e know that we want to repeat, and we also understand that it was hard to win the national championship in general, so it’s not like we can just walk in here and say we’re going to win every game,” Boston said.

With a potential professional career in the WNBA on the horizon, Boston will be hard-pressed to find an award or title that she has not earned in her already decorated college career. Instead, she turns inward to push herself to even greater heights.

“I’m just focusing on how to get better,” Boston said.

Editor’s note: Michael Sauls contributed to the reporting in this article.

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SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SENIORS REFLECT ON HISTORIC RUN WITH GAMECOCKS: ‘LIFE GOES IN A BLINK OF AN EYE’

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awn Staley’s group of seniors all have a slightly different memory of how they first met each other.

Some have memories of meeting at high school all-star games. Others remember just bumping into each other on move-in day.

Regardless of how they met — forward Aliyah Boston, guard Zia Cooke, guard Brea Beal, forward Laeticia Amihere and guard Olivia Thompson — are all now coming to terms with the fact that they have one year of college basketball left.

Thompson said it’s hit each of the seniors at different times and in different ways.

Cooke even joked recently the two had a moment where some tears were shed about growing up.

“It’s very bittersweet for

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Michael Sauls me, I know that I’m gonna miss this a lot,” Thompson said. “This is a very special group.

This is a very special class and when we came in here, we had very high expectations and we’ve really met those expectations. But we just want to keep going. We want to make this year our best year.”

Describing the expectations as “high” is accurate.

Boston, Cooke, Beal and Amihere were all ranked in the top-11 of the 2019 recruiting class, and Thompson was the S.C. 5A Player of the Year that same year.

The group was tasked with playing early and often while attempting to ride the positive momentum the program had generated in 2017 after South Carolina won its first title. The big three of Boston, Cooke and Beal has been a mainstay in the starting rotation since their freshman year. Boston and Cooke have started each game they’ve played in for the Gamecocks, while Beal has started in all but one.

Beal said on the court she’s seen a tremendous amount of growth in the mental aspect of the game from herself, Cooke and Boston during their time in Columbia.

“I think it’s crazy to see how much we’ve grown mentally and especially like IQ-wise,” Beal said.

“We understand the game of basketball so much,

especially playing under Dawn Staley. She’s taught us so much.”

During their first three years at South Carolina that class helped the Gamecocks compile 95 wins, win the SEC twice and set the program up to defend the national title it won last year.

Those last three years have flown by for Boston. She said she got chills thinking about how this is the group’s final year together.

“I mean, you come in and like for me, it’s different because I came in (when) I was 17 years old — like not even legal age,” Boston said.

“Now I’m going to be 21 and I’m graduating college. Like it is crazy how fast life goes in a blink of an eye ... now we’re on our final season together. It’s like this, this is crazy.”

Cooke said the realization she’s a senior hits her the most when she’s off the court and takes a step back to realize just how much the group has progressed.

“Some of us are in relationships now, we’re making money now, we got our own cars, it’s just like we’re doing grown-woman things,” Cooke said. “So watching us all do that is what gets me the most — sometimes even gets me emotional.”

Off the court, the five women forged a strong bond during their time at South Carolina, which Cooke said it’s been essential to the team’s success on the court. She joked that recently Staley said she didn’t realize the group was so close to one another, despite essentially being the mother of their sisterhood.

“Outside of here we hang together like — we’re the freshies. That’s what we call ourselves and that’s a name that won’t change,” Cooke said. “(Staley) was just like, ‘Wow, I didn’t know you guys are that close.’ Like yes, serious, like that’s the

reason why we clicked so well on the court because off the court we’re sisters.”

That shared bond helped them rely on each other during their initial transition from high school to college and grow as young women, Boston said.

“Coming in freshman year with a group of girls I just think it makes it so much easier, because you’re not going through it alone,” Boston said.

“You know at least four other people guaranteed are thinking exactly what you’re thinking.”

Boston said back then the group would have “freshie talks” — something they still do now.

“We just talked about anything that’s like on our mind, related (to) on and off the court, which I think has helped us,” Boston said.

“We really shared some deep things, like honestly, and I think that helped especially on the court and off the court.”

With the 20222023 campaign now underway, Thompson said she can look back and see ways each member of the senior class has grown but stayed true to themselves along the way.

“I think we’ve all just, as individuals, grown maturity-wise and just basketballwise, of course, also,” Thompson said. “It’s really cool to see how we’ve changed but still stay the same. We still have the same goals, but we just have a different level of focus.”

Illustration: Sabrina Hampton PhotoS: Kate Benn, Sydney Dunlap, Ellis page & Faith Worrell 29

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GARNET & BLACK MADNESS T

Nola dixon

he Gamecocks men’s basketball team hosted Garnet & Black Madness on Oct. 26, 2022. During the event, the basketball team held a slam dunk and three-point contest following a small intrateam scrimmage in front of a small crowd of media members.

Freshman guard Zachary Davis brings the ball up court on Oct. 26, 2022. Davis is one of the four freshman on head coach Lamont Paris’ first roster.

Freshman forward Daniel HankinsSanford runs back on defense after making a three-pointer on Oct. 26, 2022.

Hankins-Sanford was a three-start recruit from Charlotte, N.C.

Redshirt junior forward Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk dunks a lob pass on Oct. 26, 2022. Bosmans-Verdonk transferred to South Carolina from Illinois and is also attending law school in Columbia.

Freshman forward Gregory “GG” Jackson jumps to make a three-point shot on Oct. 26, 2022. Jackson is the highest ranked recruit in the South Carolina men’s basketball program history.

The garnet team walks on the court after a timeout during a scrimmage on Oct. 26th, 2022. This year’s men’s basketball roster will feature a healthy mix of transfers, seasoned veterans and freshmen.

Freshman guard Zachary Davis shoots a three-pointer during the three-point shot contest on Oct. 26, 2022. Davis was rated the fourth-best prospect in S.C. coming out of high school.

The Gamecocks huddle up before an intrasquad scrimmage on Oct. 26, 2022. The men’s basketball team kicked off their 2022-2023 season on Nov. 8 against S.C. State.

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Columbia native Ashlyn Watkins brings five-star skills to Gamecocks women’s basketball team Peyton Butt

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reshman forward and five-star recruit Ashlyn Watkins is among basketball greats such as Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal in being named to the McDonald’s All-American game roster in 2022. She was also one of only three women in history to win the dunk contest at the game.

“It means a lot to me. This is a huge accomplishment,” Watkins said after the win. “I just want to show everybody that I’m one of the best in the world. A lot of famous people and great basketball players have been McDonald’s AllAmerican, and it’s just an honor for me to be one as well.”

Now, Watkins is gearing up in her hometown for her first season in garnet and black after choosing South Carolina over other top schools like Kentucky, North Carolina, Mississippi State, Clemson, Georgia and Louisville.

“I’ve never had a freshman that has come in as physically prepared for the rigors of a college basketball season like (Watkins) is,” head coach Dawn Staley said.

Despite all the offers, Watkins chose South Carolina not only for its location, but also for the program Staley has built.

“I knew that it was a winning program already, and I wanted to be a part of a winning program so that I can learn better and get the chance to be better.

It also made it an easier decision because it was close to home,” Watkins said.

Watkins previously played at Cardinal Newman High School in Columbia. Adjusting to college life has been

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something new and different for Watkins, but being so close to home has made the adjustment easier.

“Knowing that I've got my family down the road, just a car ride away, that made it easier,” Watkins said. “It's faster, it's more physical, it's just all around different. In high school, I could chill and be lazy, but in college, you have to be on go every second of every day.”

Watkins found her home within her home at South Carolina and said she is eager to get on the court with the team and make an impact.

“Playing against good people in practice makes you better, so I know that I will get better when I go to USC,” Watkins said after signing with South Carolina.

“It’s very nerveracking, but it’s exciting at the same time, so I’m very excited.”

Watkins joins a stacked frontcourt group with stars like senior forward Aliyah Boston.

“I just can't wait for people to throw lobs at Ashlyn, she's gonna throw it down,” Boston said. “Ashlyn has improved a lot, I mean she's a freak athlete, she can jump out of this world and she’s gotten so much better at communicating and finishing well.”

In her freshman campaign, Watkins has the opportunity to be part of South Carolina's quest to defend national title.

Photo: Calista Pushman Photo: Freshman forward Ashlyn Watkins in the middle of a drill at the end of the first Gamecocks women’s basketball practice of the season on Sept. 28, 2022. She committed to South Carolina from Cardinal Newman High School.

South Carolina men’s basketball veterans prepare for upcoming season with new teammates, coach Destini Austin

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clean slate awaits the South Carolina men’s basketball team this year as a mix of veterans athletes, new players and new coaches prepare to begin their first season in Columbia.

Experience is vital to balance out the roster and bond the team together with a total of five transfer student-athletes and three new freshmen joining the team. Among the group of returning veterans this season is sophomore guard Jacobi Wright who also played in Columbia last year.

Wright has a unique perspective as a player experienced within the program but with his transition to the college game still fresh in his mind.

“Last year, I didn’t know what I was getting into,” Wright said. “So this year, for me, I came into it just wanting to better myself ... this year I’m just trying to ... help the team.”

Last season was Wright’s first playing on the South Carolina men’s basketball team. He along with the other returning athletes played under Frank Martin to begin their Gamecock careers.

After the dismissal of Martin, South Carolina’s head coach for the past ten years, in the spring, Gamecock fans will see Lamont Paris take over the program as the new head coach and lead the team.

Paris was previously the coach of the Mocs men’s basketball team at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. He’s been working with the Gamecocks since the summer. Veterans of the Gamecocks are adjusting to playing under a different coaching staff.

“I think with every coach, every system is going to be different anyways, so I wouldn’t say it’s either hard or easy to adapt to a system,” junior center Tre-Vaughn Minott said. “There’s gonna be some adjustments to be made, but I think that comes naturally with the game.”

Minott is one of the longest tenured Gamecocks on the roster having been a part of this team since 2020. Last season, Minott

Frank Martin

Gamecocks men’s basketball coach: 2012 - 2022

lamont paris

Gamecocks men’s basketball coach: 2022 - Present

photo: nola Dixon

played 14 games and averaged 2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.

“I feel like all of us should be effective communicators to help carry our team and to push us to the top,” Minott said, giving insight to how he’s approaching the season.

After meeting the incoming coaching staff, Minott said he had a good feeling and decided to stay with the South Carolina basketball program. He also said he’s seen growth in this year’s freshman class.

“It shows every day they come into practice. They’re ready to work, ready to get down and dirty,” Minott said. “They’ve just been getting better.”

Guard Chico Carter Jr., a returning senior, decided to stay on the team instead of entering the transfer portal. Carter transferred in last offseason and played under Martin for a year.

After seeing Paris’ interview, he decided to stay and continue playing with the Gamecocks.

“He really just broke down to me that he has a plan for us,” Carter said. “I believed it and I stayed.”

New transfer graduate forward Hayden Brown will make his debut with the team this year. Brown is the oldest player on the roster but has already established himself among his new teammates and head coach.

“I’ve been very comfortable with (Paris) from the start,” Brown said. “I think we just have a trust that has come over time.”

Junior forward Ja’Von Benson, junior forward Josh Gray and senior guard Ford Cooper Jr. round out the athletes who have remained with the South Carolina program through the coaching change and roster turnover. Each player will take on a new role under Paris and upperclassmen will have to help their new teammates find their footing.

photo: Jerry Bowen 33

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DEBUT

42 YEARS OF COCKY

Cocky on the football field in 1980 for his season debut. At first, many students were not on board with the mascot’s friendly look.

Photo Courtesy of Elizabeth West

Calista Pushman

W

hether it’s breaking out of a magic box to kick off a football game, dancing along the sidelines with the cheerleaders or taking fun selfies with students in the stands, Cocky is a staple at all USC sporting events. While most of the Carolina community loves the

Gamecock mascot, it took some time for Gamecocks nation to love the cartoonish red bird as they do today. Follow along through the history of Cocky, starting at his official debut in 1980, to the present day.

Cocky often performed with the cheerleaders. His soft and fun demeanor, though disliked by many at first, quickly grew on students with each appearance in the 1980s.

The mascots of South Carolina and Clemson keep fans fired up for the game.

Whether it’s 1990 or present day, one thing has always been the same: the Clemson-Carolina rivalry is between players and mascots alike.

Photo courtesy of Garnet & Black Yearbook

Photo: Kyle Holland

1990

Photo courtesy of Garnet & Black Yearbook 36

Cocky joins the Carolina Band in the stands at a football game in 1994. Though many students often see Cocky on the field at football games, his schenanigans aren’t limited to the sidelines.

Photo courtesy of Garnet & Black Yearbook

Photo Courtesy of Elizabeth West

198

Cocky and Sir Big Spur together in 1980. Sir Big Spur has a tall, stiffer build, while Cocky — his “son” — was made to be less intimidating. This was done by making him much softer, featuring a red coat, cartoonish yellow beak and a round build.

0

Photo: Richard Vogel

Cocky on the top of a cheer pyramid in 1982. John Routh, the man in the suit at the time, went on to become a mascot at the University of Miami.

Photo: David Zilber

Cocky and his parents pose on the football field in 1994, displaying the Family Weekend tradition that is still seen today. The only difference is Cocky’s number, as today his jersey — and the supportive buttons his parents wear — read “MY SON IS #01.”

Photo courtesy of Garnet & Black Yearbook

Cocky on the baseball field in the 1980s holding a toy baseball bat. In contrast to Sir Big Spur, Cocky took on a goofy personality that kept crowds entertained.

0 0 0 2

Photo: Juan Blas

Cocky and his girlfriend walk the sidelines during USC’s Homecoming game against Vanderbilt in 2005. Though Cocky is most known for wearing his jersey, it’s common to see Cocky dressed up for special events beside a friend or family member.

37

Zackary Gray, 6, poses in a Cocky costume with the actual Cocky mascot in 2009. This shows a stark contrast from Cock’s initial audience reaction.

Photo: Jeremy Aaron

Cocky is known for his grand football entrance. Set to “2001: A Space Odessey,” Cocky fights out of a “magic box” accompanied by flames, fireworks and fierce cheers from the Carolina Crowd. This moment was captured before the Gamecocks took on Missouri on Sept. 22, 2012

2010

Cocky on the field of Williams-Brice Stadium in 2013. While the Carolina community knows Cocky well, very few people know his true identity until the students wear the suit’s gloves and feet at graduation.

Photo: C. Aluka Berry

Photo: Jeffrey Davis

Cocky doing his iconic call on the sidelines of Williams-Brice Stadium. Although Gamecocks lost to the Georgia Bulldogs on Sept. 17, 2022, Cocky kept the crowd going with moves like this.

Photo: Calista Pushman 38

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Incoming transfer players bring experience, leadership to Gamecock men’s basketball lawson murrell

N

ew South Carolina men’s basketball head coach Lamont Paris begins his tenure in Columbia with five new transfer athletes from a variety of programs.

Paris made his name at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga by taking advantage of the transfer portal. He now looks to replicate that success with the Gamecocks.

“I hope to put a product out there that people are scratching their heads and saying ‘How in the world did that work? I see who they have playing and this guy didn’t really play much at this school and this guy’s never played at this level and that guy’s never played that role at all,’” Paris said at SEC Media Day. The newcomers include graduate forward Hayden Brown, who previously played at The Citadel, junior guard Meechie Johnson, who transferred from Ohio State, and redshirt junior forward Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk, who transferred from Illinois.

Brown was the first player from the portal to commit to the Gamecocks in April. He has a pre-existing relationship with Paris, as the two competed against each other in the Southern Conference at their previous schools.

“It’s a really special relationship that we’ve had because it’s been unique right, like, I’ve played against him for five years, so I’ve had somewhat of a feel for who he is as a person, who he is as a coach,” Brown said. “So, I’ve been very comfortable with him.”

Brown started all 30 games he appeared in for the Citadel last season, averaging 18.8 points and 9.5 rebounds. He played a total of 111 career games for the Bulldogs from 2017 to 2022. Now, the 24-year-old looks to share his experience as the oldest player on the roster with his new teammates.

“I don’t take a role like that lightly, and I enjoy being somebody that the Meechie johnson guys can look to and be 40

like, “Okay he’s been there, he’s done that,” Brown said.

Johnson is another incoming transfer who brings much-needed NCAA Tournament experience. He came off the bench for the Buckeyes in the tournament this past season and played 43 games for the team over two seasons. Johnson said he intends to lead by example to establish a winning mentality in Columbia.

“When you see a teammate or somebody who’s all about winning all the time, it’s a domino effect,” Johnson said. “It shows the other players, other players start to do it, other players start to buy in. I feel like that’s the biggest thing I’m trying to show these guys.”

Johnson’s minutes per game tripled from his first to second season at Ohio State and he looks to take another step with his on-court production this year. He said Paris’ game plan and approach with his team will assist him in meeting those goals.

“Offensively, just the freedom to be able to be you, to play your game. (Paris) has instilled confidence I feel like in every single player, in every guy out there, and I feel like that’s big,” Johnson said.

Each transfer brings with them perspective from their previous programs and unique skills but the team will have to develop chemistry to compete in the SEC. Bosmans-Verdonk

stressed the importance of connectivity amongst a newly assembled roster.

“With the coaching change and so many different players coming in, I think there’s something to be said about not really having had the opportunity to play with each other for a long time. I think that defensively, especially, it’s like a machine, and you’re only as strong as your weakest link,” Bosmans-Verdonk said.

Bosmans-Verdonk chose to come to Columbia after graduating from Illinois in three years to enroll in the South Carolina law school. He experienced injury trouble with the Illini and that, alongside the extra year of eligibility from COVID-19, will allow him to play for the Gamecocks for multiple seasons.

Another transfer, senior guard Ebrima Dibba, will be out for the season due to an Achilles injury. Dibba came to Columbia from Coastal Carolina where he played 90 career games for the Chanticleers.

Senior guard Chico Carter Jr. is familiar with the transfer portal after playing last season with the Gamecocks following a transition from Murray State the previous offseason. He has first-hand experience with the challenge of adapting to a new program but said the team is already bonding well.

“Our chemistry has been great for a lot of new faces, a lot of transfers, incoming freshman,” Carter Jr. said. “I feel like we’ve been jelling off the court, even if it’s like playing a game in the house or listening to music, watching film, just being around each other.” photos: nola dixon Left & Middle: Transfer men’s basketball players answer questions from members of the media.

The Gamecock’s men’s basketball team hosted a local media day on Oct. 12, 2022.

hayden brown

benjamin bosmans-verdonk

Right: Redshirt junior Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk stands on the court of Colonial Life Arena during a basketball scrimmage on Oct. 26, 2022. The South Carolina men’s basketball team hosted a Garnet and Black Madness event.

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