C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
Barring something unforeseen, it looks like the Gamecocks’ 2020 class is set with two signees in Patrick Iriel and Ja’Von Benson.
With that, I wanted to put together a few notes on just how it came together and what I think each could do as a freshman in the SEC and what they could look like by the end of their careers at South Carolina.
The first commit of the class was Patrick Iriel, who committed after a pretty long and quiet recruitment until the final few months. He was a guy the Gamecocks tracked for a very long time right down the road at AC Flora and when it was time for him to make a decision, they were the school that had been in the fight for the longest.
He was a guy who really started to blow up his junior season and had a really strong AAU circuit that forced a lot of coaches to begin calling him and knocking on his door. By the time his recruitment ended, he was getting significant attention from schools like Butler and Cincinnati.
His relationship with the coaching staff was something he really valued, and staying close to home doesn’t hurt either.
As for what he can do on the court, I think he’s probably the most ready of the two on day one to step in and have a role on the team. That’s not a knock on Ja’Von Benson (we’ll get to him) but more to how good Iriel’s become as a senior.
Physically he looks the part and he’s a really good rebounder for an incoming freshman that isn’t afraid to go up and play above the rim and block shots. One of the last times the staff saw him play before committing was over the summer where he went toe-to-toe with P.J. Hall, beating him out for rebounds and blocking a few of his shots.
He’ll need to learn how to play with his back to the basket a little more, but that’s not saying he can’t do it. Now it’s just about getting Iriel up to speed with Frank Martin’s system.
As for what he’ll turn into, he’s got a chance to earn some minutes this year in a frontcourt rotation that’s looking for someone to help replace Maik Kotsar. He has a few guys ahead of him from an experience standpoint in Alanzo Frink, Wildens Leveque and Jalyn McCreary but could work himself into some minutes early. By the time he’s a senior, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him as a starter at either the center spot or the four.
The other signee is Ja’Von Benson, who’s still developing into his game and is just finishing his first year as the leader at Ridge View. Getting him into the weight room and in the nutrition program is going to be really key to if he does see significant time as a freshman.
His recruitment was a little shorter than Iriel’s but the Gamecocks picked up him over College of Charleston primarily. It happened quick, over a half-year span and Benson committed in October before the start of his senior season.
What really drew him to South Carolina was—as it is with most guys—was the coaching staff, but Frank Martin really used his ability to get a college degree in his pitch, which really went a long way with Benson.
As for his skill set, he’s a very raw, athletic four who can shoot the ball when he wants to. Physically he needs some work in the weight room to reshape his body. He has the frame to put on a few more pounds of muscle and that’ll help him see the court when he does.
If he can learn the system quickly, he could earn some minutes as a freshman. He’s the kind of guy who will develop into a starter by the time he’s done as he reshapes his body and continues to develop, which is something he’s doing well in the year he’s been kind of thrust into a leadership role.
Right now he’s a four who can shoot and can rebound, although that’ll continue to get. His biggest asset is his over 7-foot wing span (even though he’s about 6-foot-8) that helps him protect the rim, which something the Gamecocks need on this year’s team.
Best-case scenario is he can develop into a three or four, but right now he’s solely a four, very similar to what Jalyn McCreary is in this offense.
This isn't necessarily an eye-popping class in terms of star rankings or national top 150 rankings, but these are two solid players who haven't begun to scratch the surface of what they can become and could develop into two future starters one day.
With that, I wanted to put together a few notes on just how it came together and what I think each could do as a freshman in the SEC and what they could look like by the end of their careers at South Carolina.
The first commit of the class was Patrick Iriel, who committed after a pretty long and quiet recruitment until the final few months. He was a guy the Gamecocks tracked for a very long time right down the road at AC Flora and when it was time for him to make a decision, they were the school that had been in the fight for the longest.
He was a guy who really started to blow up his junior season and had a really strong AAU circuit that forced a lot of coaches to begin calling him and knocking on his door. By the time his recruitment ended, he was getting significant attention from schools like Butler and Cincinnati.
His relationship with the coaching staff was something he really valued, and staying close to home doesn’t hurt either.
As for what he can do on the court, I think he’s probably the most ready of the two on day one to step in and have a role on the team. That’s not a knock on Ja’Von Benson (we’ll get to him) but more to how good Iriel’s become as a senior.
Physically he looks the part and he’s a really good rebounder for an incoming freshman that isn’t afraid to go up and play above the rim and block shots. One of the last times the staff saw him play before committing was over the summer where he went toe-to-toe with P.J. Hall, beating him out for rebounds and blocking a few of his shots.
He’ll need to learn how to play with his back to the basket a little more, but that’s not saying he can’t do it. Now it’s just about getting Iriel up to speed with Frank Martin’s system.
As for what he’ll turn into, he’s got a chance to earn some minutes this year in a frontcourt rotation that’s looking for someone to help replace Maik Kotsar. He has a few guys ahead of him from an experience standpoint in Alanzo Frink, Wildens Leveque and Jalyn McCreary but could work himself into some minutes early. By the time he’s a senior, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him as a starter at either the center spot or the four.
The other signee is Ja’Von Benson, who’s still developing into his game and is just finishing his first year as the leader at Ridge View. Getting him into the weight room and in the nutrition program is going to be really key to if he does see significant time as a freshman.
His recruitment was a little shorter than Iriel’s but the Gamecocks picked up him over College of Charleston primarily. It happened quick, over a half-year span and Benson committed in October before the start of his senior season.
What really drew him to South Carolina was—as it is with most guys—was the coaching staff, but Frank Martin really used his ability to get a college degree in his pitch, which really went a long way with Benson.
As for his skill set, he’s a very raw, athletic four who can shoot the ball when he wants to. Physically he needs some work in the weight room to reshape his body. He has the frame to put on a few more pounds of muscle and that’ll help him see the court when he does.
If he can learn the system quickly, he could earn some minutes as a freshman. He’s the kind of guy who will develop into a starter by the time he’s done as he reshapes his body and continues to develop, which is something he’s doing well in the year he’s been kind of thrust into a leadership role.
Right now he’s a four who can shoot and can rebound, although that’ll continue to get. His biggest asset is his over 7-foot wing span (even though he’s about 6-foot-8) that helps him protect the rim, which something the Gamecocks need on this year’s team.
Best-case scenario is he can develop into a three or four, but right now he’s solely a four, very similar to what Jalyn McCreary is in this offense.
This isn't necessarily an eye-popping class in terms of star rankings or national top 150 rankings, but these are two solid players who haven't begun to scratch the surface of what they can become and could develop into two future starters one day.
