South Carolina brought in a half dozen transfers this offseason but only one came from another program in the Southeastern Conference. Center Josh Gray, a player the Gamecocks recruited with vigor out of high school, spent one season at LSU before coming to Columbia for the next steps in his basketball career.
There have been different challenges for Gray as he makes the transition from one SEC school to the other, but he’s been largely prepared. The jump from high school to college was one that took some time for adjustment.
VIP Room: Recruiting updates, new name to follow | Latest on Daniel Hankins-Sanford
“It’s been a real easy transition, compared to last year from high school to college,” Gray told TheBigSpur.com recently.
“Basketball wise, it’s been really good. We do a lot more weight lifting, so we’re getting stronger and faster. It’s a lot of learning, and a big learning process with Frank. Learning the defense and what he wants us to do on the court, I think we’re doing a really good job.”
What Gray was learning this time last year is starkly different, at least defensively, as to what he’s learning now. Offensively, the plan of attack is somewhat similar, at least in half court sets. There’s a lot more put on players defensively than what he’s used to.
“It’s not a ton different offensively but there’s a vast difference defensively,” Gray said. “Defensively, here, it’s really going to be helpful down the line as we play tougher and tougher teams. If we keep building team chemistry, our defense is going to be really good.”
The Tigers don’t play with quite the aggression on the defensive end as the Gamecocks. The style of defense can certainly be effective, but South Carolina head coach Frank Martin has almost always played much differently.
The Gamecocks played more pack line defense than any other team that Martin has ever coached, and they’re going away from that this year as the team was able to have a more typical practice regimen with Covid-19 protocols vastly different this season.
“Last year, we were doing a one through five switch defense and a zone-to-match defense,” Gray said of his time at LSU.
“This year, we don’t switch anything. It helps us be held accountable for our defensive assignments. If someone scores, you can’t blame a switch on somebody else. There’s a bunch of different calls when it comes to pick and rolls, shot blocks and things like that. It’s very different in that regard.”
Gray’s transition from high school to LSU was a challenge for him, as he got a taste of what hard work really is when he got to college. And now that he’s at South Carolina, that level of work has upgraded again.
“I’ve learned that my definition of hard work is not anywhere close to what hard work is on the collegiate level,” Gray said. “When I thought I was working hard last year, I’m working five times harder this year. That’s the biggest thing I’ve learned about myself over the course of the last year.”
Gray and the Gamecocks will take the court for the first time this year in a scrimmage against Benedict on November 4. Tip-off from the Colonial Life Arena is set for 7 p.m.
"smooth" - Google News
October 27, 2021 at 08:10PM
https://ift.tt/3vS8PAt
Gray making a smooth transition to Carolina - 247Sports.com
"smooth" - Google News
https://ift.tt/30JhCVH
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Gray making a smooth transition to Carolina - 247Sports.com"
Post a Comment