The most veteran member of the USC basketball team, redshirt junior forward Justin Minaya, announced Tuesday he has put his name into the NBA Draft, but will not sign with an agent. He also has put his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal indicating a desire to look elsewhere if he withdraws from the Draft.
Minaya was the last member on the roster of the eight man signing class Frank Martin signed for the 2017 class, the one right after the run to the Final four that April. In his four seasons at USC, Minaya averaged 7.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Minaya is the sixth Gamecock to announce a move of some sort over the last two weeks. Keyshawn Bryant and Jermaine Couisnard also put their names in the Draft and won’t sign with agents. TJ Moss, Trae Hannibal and Jalyn McCreary have their names in the Portal.
It would surprise no one if junior guard AJ Lawson also announced for the Draft in the coming days. He has twice before tested the waters without signing with an agent.
Including Lawson, the Gamecocks have seven other scholarship players on their roster who could return for next season. Those are forward Trey Anderson, forward Wildens Leveque, forward Alanzo Frink, forward Ja’Von Benson, center Tre-Vaughn Minott and guard Seventh Woods, who as a redshirt senior has an option to return thanks to the free season the NCAA granted players from this season.
This week Martin added transfer point guard Chico Carter Jr. from Murray State. He has four other signees/commitments in the class…6-4 Devin Carter, 6-2 Jacobi Wright, 6-8 Ta’Quan Woodley and 6-5 Carlous Williams who is slated to sign his letter of intent on April 26th, his grandfather’s birthday.
As things stand now, the Gamecocks would have 12 of their 13 scholarships committed for 2021, assuming Lawson and Woods return and there are no other defections.
Potential USC 2021-22 roster
- 6-2 Seventh Woods
- 6-2 Jacobi Wright
- 6-2 Chico Carter Jr.
- 6-4 Devin Carter
- 6-5 Carlous Williams
- 6-6 AJ Lawson
- 6-6 Trey Anderson
- 6-7 Ja’Von Benson
- 6-8 Alanzo Frink
- 6-8 Ta’Quan Woodley
- 6-9 Tre-Vaughn Minott
- 6-10 Wildens Leveque
It would nice if Frank Martin could land some shot makers instead of just shot takers.
Or at least make a foul shot..The latest transfer candidate ,I noticed only shoots a cool 63%, fits right in!