South Carolina Head Coach Frank Martin was limited to eight scholarship players available for Saturday’s competition against Florida A&M. He feels good about that number rising to nine at the SEC opening Wednesday night against Texas A&M at 9 pm.
Second year advanced Jalyn McCreary, a player for whom Martin received much praise in the preseason, is in line to be released to dress and play. His addition, especially considering he is a 6-8 and 235 pound striker with experience, is exactly what this team needs after having only junior redshirt Justin Minayasecond year students Wildens Leveque and Trey Anderson and freshman Ja’Von Benson to protect the painting against FAMU.
“We just took the test today,” said Martin. “To quote our trainer, Mark Rodger, ‘Texting is good. Phone calls are bad. ‘I hope to receive a text message, not a call from him later today. “
McCreary played in Carolina’s first three games of the season before the three-week canceled five-game program ended in December due to positive test results. He averaged 12 minutes, four points and almost three rebounds per game. More than anything, their return provides more physicality when Gamecocks come into play at the conference.
“With Jalyn, he didn’t train for a week before the (first game) against Liberty because of a concussion,” said Martin. “So he played two games, trained three times, played in Houston and that’s it. At the beginning of the season, in my opinion, he is a major contributor to the basketball team. He had a tremendous September and October.
“Now, here we are in the middle of it and I think he has trained four times since November 15th. He’s a guy that I thought would be a hell of a year and take a big step as a player. We have to put him there and find a way to let him make the mistakes he will make because he has not had repetitions. That part has to be forcibly fed this year. “
As a freshman last season, McCreary’s players played 27 games and averaged 4.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.4 blocks in 11.5 minutes per game. In 17 SEC competitions, he averaged 4.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game.
Gamecocks that were available for the Florida A&M game
Guards – Jermaine Couisnard, AJ Lawson, Seventh woods, Trae Hannibal, Ford Cooper (transfer eligible, not played), Mike Green (walking without getting dressed)
Forwards (all played) – Justin Minaya, Wildens Leveque, Trey Anderson, Ja’Von Benson
Players not available for the Florida A&M game
Guards – TJ Moss
Forward – Jalyn McCreary, Keyshawn Bryant (three starting games), Alanzo Frink (three starting games), Nathan Nelson (walking from)
Gamecocks (2-2) and Aggies (6-2, 1-1) will be on ESPNU on Wednesday night.