The NBA Summer League concluded on July 18th and the summer session yielded mixed results for two former Gamecocks.  Former USC point guard Devan Downey and former Gamecocks forward Carlos Powell gave it their best while stating their case for a chance at a NBA career.

Let’s take a look at both –

Devan Downey played in 5 games for the Sacramento Kings; he averaged 4.8 points with 2.4 rebounds and 3 assists per game.  He had 4 steals and was 1-2 from 3 ball range.  Good news is he ended his summer fun on a high note.  In his last game, he shot 4-8 and had 17 mins of PT while dishing in 11 points against Dallas.

Carlos Powell played in 5 games for the New York Knicks Summer Team.  He averaged 3 points, 2 rebounds and .4 assists.  He shot 2-5 from 3 ball land.  When you look at his numbers the “not good” aspect is the dwindling minutes which I am not sure why that happened.  He when from playing 24 mins in the first game to just 3 mins in the last outing versus Washington.  Just hope the impression was made.

Good luck to both in the next steps.  We here at LOHD wish them both well in their pursuit to earn a true NBA contract. 

A bit of interesting news in the last 24 hours out of USC Gamecocks Basketball Camp, the idea of redshirting their F/C Sam Muldrow for the 2010-2011 season.  The idea it seems, first reported by Phil Kornbult, is to save his talents for next season so he can play along side recent transfer Murphy Holloway.

I know that the team is going to have "growing pains" in 2010-2011 after losing Devan Downey and Archie but I am not sure about this move.  The incoming class, yes young, but it is loaded with talent.  Here is what USC will be working with as far as new guys this coming season...

Bruce Ellington (G - 5-10 - 185 - Moncks Corner, S.C./Berkeley High School), Damontre Harris (F - 6-9 - 225 - Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian School), Brian Richardson (G - 6-5 - 180 - Wilson, N.C./Greenfield School), RJ Slawson (F - 6-8 - 190 - Charleston, S.C./Fort Dorchester High School), Carlton Geathers (F - 6-11 - 260 - Georgetown, S.C. - Carvers Bay High School) and Eric Smith (G - 5-11 - 185 - Mullins, S.C./Christ School).

Still find it hard to understand this reasoning as it seems the team could benefit from "Big Sam" with his leadership but also post play.  Muldrow started all 31 games last season and averaged over 10 points and 6 rebounds per game.  Word out of camp is Sam is okay with the idea.  I can not blame him there why not one more year of college?

So will USC field the next "fab 5?"

Thoughts on the possible redshirt?

Former USC Gamecocks Basketball star Carlos Powell will take part this summer on the New York Knicks Summer League team.

Mr. Powell will be part of the 16-man roster of the New York Knickerbockers entry in the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, July 11-17.

You will recall, Carlos Powell decided to leave the NBDL late last season and accept an offer from Liaoning, in the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) to continue his professional basketball career. Since his return to the US, he has been trying to decide the next steps in his career to get to his ultimate goal of the NBA. This seems like a good path as it will mean some good exposure for him in front of fans and scouts.

This will be his second stint in the NBA Summer League as he was a part of the Golden State Warriors Summer Team in 2007.

We here at LOHD wish him nothing but luck and look forward to watching him play this summer.

Web Extra

Knicks to Play in 2010 NBA Summer League

It now seems Murphy Holloway is headed to the University of South Carolina Gamecocks basketball team to continue his basketball career after transferring out of Ole Miss according to mulitple media reports.  Murphy Holloway is set to announce Wednesday at Dutch Fork HS that he will walk on at USC thus paying his own way and sitting out the 2010-2011 season. 

Holloway will have two years to play for Coach Horn beginning with the 2011 season. This situation is much like the Malik Cooke issue last year, as he was a transfer from Nevada and will be available this season for the Gamecocks.

This is a great addition for Coach Horn and happy this has worked out in USC's favor after all the drama surrounding Murphy.  The 6-foot-7 Holloway was the SEC's fifth-leading rebounder last season, averaging 7.6 per game, and Mississippi's third-leading scorer, averaging 10.1. He also finished fifth in the SEC with 50 steals.  Great add with the class coming in this year for USC as it seems he will bring a nice inside presence to fit Horn's system.

I know many Clemson fans are unhappy as it seemed he was heading to the school in northern SC but Ole Miss denied that before it could happen along with the denial of USC.  Many blame Phil Kornbult, which is garbage as he was simply doing his job as a reporter and did not cause Ole Miss to axe the CU option.  Don't flatter yourself.  I say grow up CU fans and face it - you lost out on this kid.  He wanted to be a gamecock out of HS, he is from the area, his family is in the area and he now will do want it takes to fulfill his dream of being a gamecock while playing in front of his family.

UPDATE---

Murphy Holloway made it official on Wednesday morning at Dutch Fork High School when he announced his intentions to walk-on at USC.  His announcement, along with the 2011 commitment Anthony Gill, leaves only one remaining scholarship for the 2011-2012 team and right now it looks to be left for high profile prospect Damien Leonard from JL Mann if he wants it.

• Gamecocks host lowly Razorbacks
• USC tries to bounce back

1. LSU
2. UT
3. UF
4. USC
5. MSU
6. UK
7. Ole Miss
8. Vandy
9. 'Bama
10. Aub
11. Ark
12. UGa

Time for the gamecocks to 'man-up' as they enter mid Februay tied for the SEC East division lead, the Gamecocks enter a two-game road stretch that could prove crucial to their championship chances and a berth in the NCAA tourney.

It starts today for South Carolina (17-5, 6-3 SEC) at Alabama (13-10, 3-6) then continues Wednesday night at Mississippi State. South Carolina is 1-10 all-time at Alabama, the lone victory coming in the Gamecocks’ 1997 SEC championship season. Bama has a 11-3 record in Tuscaloosa this season.

Carolina must slow Bama Senior guard Alonzo Gee today and I hope Bama Freshman forward JaMychal Green will not play today. For USC, Downey has to score as last game he was not the scoring force he has been which was okay as the team stepped up. I feel again that it will take the entire USC team playing togther, rebounding, eliminating TOs and making some FTs to win. I think they will do just that by making it a 7 pt victory today.

Related story
--Horn, Gamecocks race toward new ground