Connect with us

South-Carolina

South Carolina Basketball: Former Gamecock star getting new NBA contract

Published

on

South Carolina Basketball: Former Gamecock star getting new NBA contract


The NBA G League has been kind to South Carolina basketball alums this season.

GG Jackson, who was taken in the 2nd round of the 2023 NBA Draft, started the year bouncing back and forth between the Memphis Grizzlies and their G League Affiliate (the Memphis Hustle). As he averaged over 20 points per game, he earned his way to a full-time contract with the Grizz as he burst onto the scene as one the association’s most exciting young players.

Chris Silva has been one of the top frontcourt players in the G League this season. On the year, the power forward is averaging 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists. He even put up a 30-point, 20-rebound performance earlier this year as he works for another NBA contract.

Now, another former South Carolina basketball star has parlayed his NBA G League excellence into a full-time contract.

Advertisement

Wing AJ Lawson, after averaging over 20 points and 7 rebounds (and over 50% shooting), is no longer on a 2-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks and Texas Legends. Instead, he will be with the Mavs the rest of the way as the Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving-led squad competes for an NBA Title.

Lawson had a strong finish to the season last year with the Mavericks. The Canadian-born scorer averaged 11 points and 4 rebounds in just 19 minutes per game down the stretch for Dallas, but a crowded room of guards and wings prevented him from anything more than a 2-way contract to start the 2023-2024 season.

Now, though, as he just kept producing, Lawson forced the Mavericks’ hand. With the Mavs, he will fight for a role playing off the ball as a potential microwave scorer who can shoot the ball from outside and attack the hoop with length and athleticism. For his career at the NBA level, AJ Lawson has shot nearly 50% from the floor and over 35% from behind the 3-point arc.

As other Mavericks ahead of Lawson on the depth chart (namely Tim Hardaway, Jr.) haven’t produced well enough, Lawson could get a chance to be in the rotation sooner rather than later.

Before becoming an NBA player, Lawson averaged over 14 points per game for the South Carolina Gamecocks despite entering college a year early.

Advertisement

dark. Next. South Carolina Basketball: The top-10 Gamecock NBA careers. South Carolina Basketball: The top-10 Gamecock NBA careers



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

South-Carolina

Keys to Success for Clemson Tigers Against South Carolina Gamecocks

Published

on

Keys to Success for Clemson Tigers Against South Carolina Gamecocks


The Clemson Tigers are getting ready for what will be a crucial game in Week 14 against the South Carolina Gamecocks. 

This rivalry matchup is not going to disappoint, as both teams are coming into the game as Top-25 schools. For the Tigers, there is a lot on the line in this matchup. 

Due to Clemson not holding the tie-breaker against the Miami Hurricanes in the ACC and the SMU Mustangs already clinching a spot, the Tigers are going to have to hope for a Hurricanes’ loss to the Syracuse Orange if they are going to make the title game. 

However, due to recent upsets in the SEC, another path might have emerged for Clemson to make the College Football Playoffs. If they can beat a Top-25 team in the Gamecocks on Saturday, it could be the type of statement win that propels them into an at-large bid. 

Advertisement

While making the CFP still might be realistic, they first and foremost have to handle South Carolina, which will be no easy task. 

The Gamecocks have also had a great season, and they could present some matchup problems for Clemson. 

On offense, South Carolina is a run first team. Stopping the run has been an issue at times for the Tigers, as they just recently got torched on the ground against The Citadel Bulldogs. If Clemson is unable to stop or at least slow down the rushing attack for the Gamecocks, it will allow them to control the pace of the game. That obviously wouldn’t be ideal for the Tigers. 

Furthermore, on the defensive side of things, the Tigers’ offense is going to have their work cut out for them against a very strong Gamecocks defense. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has had a very strong season and this could end up being a defining game of his college career. 

Going back to the win against the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Tigers’ offense really struggled on the ground trying to run the football. If that’s the case once again in Week 14, it will fall on the shoulders of Klubnik to get the job done. 

Advertisement

This matchup could very well go down as one of the games of the week and potentially the year, with both teams being fairly even talent-wise on paper. For Clemson, this is a must-win game to keep their playoff hopes alive, as a win this late in the season against a Top-25 team would be a nice last thing to put on their resume. 

Overall, the Tigers are going to need to have a balanced attack and prepare to stop the run if they are going to come away with the win against their rival.



Source link

Continue Reading

South-Carolina

South Carolina community left without police after entire P.D. resigns

Published

on

South Carolina community left without police after entire P.D. resigns


The entire police department of a small South Carolina town resigned en masse, leaving the area without its own dedicated police force.

Chief Bob Hale of the McColl Police Department announced his resignation on November 21 in a social media post, citing a “hostile work environment perpetuated by a specific Councilman.”

“For months, I have endured unwarranted and malicious behavior aimed at undermining my integrity and leadership,” Hale wrote. “These actions have not only affected me personally but have also created a toxic atmosphere that has hindered the department’s ability to function effectively.”

The chief also said his department’s resources had been severely cut. The four officers under his command quickly resigned as well.

Advertisement

“At the end of the day, I have a family. And when my job is constantly getting threatened and certain things are getting said I’m not going to stay somewhere and tolerate that,” former McColl investigator Courtney Bulusan told WRAL.

“I’m not going to stay where I’m tolerated,” Bulusan said. “I’m going to go where I’m celebrated.”

As the town seeks new officers, the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office will fill in for the department police force, according to South Carolina Public Radio.

The town has gone through six chiefs in the past four years. Hale’s tenure in the position lasted little over a year.

“I feel unsafe. Very unsafe,” resident Lisa Bowen told local outlet WPDE. “Because anytime anybody could do anything.”

Advertisement

“They jump ship back and forth all the time,” Mayor George Garner told the Post and Courier newspaper. “This is nothing new.”

The paper reported that the councilman in question denied he had harassed any of the officers and told the paper the allegations were “hearsay.”

Such mass resignations, while uncommon, are not unprecedented.

The entire police force of Geary, Oklahoma, resigned earlier this month, Fox News reports.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

South-Carolina

UCLA's Lauren Betts sends direct warning to college basketball after Bruins upset South Carolina

Published

on

UCLA's Lauren Betts sends direct warning to college basketball after Bruins upset South Carolina


UCLA’s win over No. 1 ranked South Carolina wasn’t a fluke, and Bruins center Lauren Betts says if you haven’t been paying attention, now would be the time to.

Let’s say the thing. It was not close on Sunday. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, UCLA commanded the floor and had an answer for everything the Gamecocks tried to do. The Bruins beat South Carolina on the boards (41-34), held four starters to under five points, and *checks notes* not a single starter went to the free-throw line. UGLY STUFF.

Furthermore, five UCLA players scored in double figures, including Londynn Jones, who was sensational from the line with five 3-pointers, and star center Lauren Betts, who had 11 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and four blocks. WHEW. Postgame, Betts raved about her team and how proud she was, but she also sent a direct warning to college basketball. “If you’ve been sleeping on UCLA,” Betts said.  “You need to stop right now.”





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending