If there is anything positive that can be drawn from South Carolina’s tough men’s basketball season on and off the court, it is the maturing of the junior striker Keyshawn Bryant as a player and voice on the team.
Bryant, who is as athletic as any SEC player, started showing signs last season of a player who was starting to become more of a basketball player for head coach Frank Martin. This season, he combined his high dunks with a steady mid-range jump, is more active as a rebound and is always a threat to block an opponent’s shot.
Paired with junior guard AJ Lawson, Bryant and he formed one of the top three SEC scoring doubles for the better part of two months, with Lawson averaging more than 18 points per game in the league game, while Bryant averaged 16 points.
In 17 games played this season, which also includes three games outside the conference, Bryant averages 14.3 points per game and shoots 48 percent from the ground. His percentages of shooting as a freshman and second year were 45% and 46%, respectively.
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– Gamecock MBB (@GamecockMBB) February 4, 2021
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– Gamecock MBB (@GamecockMBB) February 27, 2021
With basketball recovering, Bryant averaged 3.8 per game as a freshman, 4.4 per game as a sophomore and is averaging 5.5 this season. He also saw an incremental increase in the average of thefts and blocks per game, of 1.4 and 1.0 in the statistics columns, respectively, in 2020-21.
“I am very proud that the coach can depend on me,” said Bryant when asked about his season. “I slowed down my game and I’m taking my time and starting to see the ground better. Things are starting to open up for me.
“Actually, it’s just me starting to grow up and become a man. Frank lives to see his players grow and become men. I’m growing up. I’m coming out of my shell and opening up more (as a leader). “
As important as his production in the ring has been his voice on the court, at breaks and in the locker room, says Martin.
“When I see a young man like Keyshawn Bryant who came here two years ago and didn’t speak even if you were one on one with him and now he’s in the middle of the practice, leading the practice and trying to cheer people up, that’s what I call growth, ”said Martin.
“I am very proud of him. He grew up as a player and worked to improve as a player. He has made some defensive and offensive mistakes in the past three weeks, but his voice continues to get louder and stronger and in a positive way. As he showed this growth, I can’t seem to pull the reins. The more responsibility they take, the more freedom I give them. “
The Gamecocks (6-13, 4-11) play their last game of the regular season on Saturday, a midday tip on the road against Kentucky on ESPN.