South Carolina male basketball player Keyshawn Bryant announced on Sunday afternoon that he is declaring himself for the 2021 NBA Draft, but will not sign with an agent at this time. If Bryant does not hire any representative, his NCAA eligibility will remain intact, as long as he withdraws his name from the process before a predetermined date.
Bryant, who played 18 games and started eight for the Gamecocks last season, averaged 14.4 points and 5.4 rebounds this season, both career highlights. He was Carolina’s second highest scorer of the season, behind only the junior guard AJ Lawson (16.6). Bryant scored at least 15 points in 14 games and at least seven rebounds in seven games.
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– keyshawn bryant (@ kiddbryant25) March 28, 2021
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– Gamecock MBB (@GamecockMBB) January 30, 2021
Bryant, who was a junior in the 2020-21 season, is listed at 6 feet-6 and 195 pounds. He is widely considered to be one of the most athletic players in the Southeast Conference. He is the first male basketball player from Carolina to announce plans for the postseason after a regular season of 6-15, the first losing season for the Gamecocks since 2013-14.
This news comes at uncertain times for the nine-year-old head coach Frank Martin. After believing that Martin and South Carolina would go their separate ways, news at the end of the work week revealed that he could be in Columbia for the 2021-22 season. Martin has two years left on his current contract. Use this link to read John Whittle’s latest report from TheBigSpur on Martin.
Lawson, who has pleaded for the NBA Draft in the past two years, is expected to do the same this summer, but it is unclear whether he will declare and hire an agent at the same time.