The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, July 07, 1999, Page Page 9, Image 9
FROM THE SIDELINES
USC sophomore Terrence
Trammel! was named the
Track and Field News
Collegiate Athlete of the Year
in its August issue. Trammell
won two NCAA titles in 1999
Wednesday, July 7,1999
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SCHEDULE
South Carolina will send seven
current and former track and
held athletes to the world
University Games in Palma de
Maloca* Spain. The Games run from
July 9-13Page
9
By Charlie Wallace
Sports Editor
?
BJ McKie. The name spoken aloud could spar!
a bevy of memories and discussions. Evei
since he signed with South Carolina out 01
, Irmo High School, I have watched him with a keer
interest and a certain excitement.
I In my lifetime, there hasn't been a player who has
brought so much to the Gamecock basketball program.
McKie's signing with USC signified manj
things.
!McKie was head coach Eddie roglers first blue
chip recruit and, more importantly, he was from the
Palmetto state, not to mention the capital city.
Recent resentment from fans about how USC
repeatedly let the prize recruits get away was somewhat
dimmed. Lany Davis' traveling up the roadjxi
Chapel Hill and Ray Allen's jump to Connecticut
seemed to hurt the worst, but McKie's decision singlehandedly
squashed the painful memories. In fact,
Davis later transferred to USC and was part of one
of the greatest teams the program has ever had.
' What made McKie's decision to play for USC so
special were his credentials. McKie led the Irmo
Yellow Jackets to three state championships in the
state's most competitive region, scoring 42 points in
his last Pflmp As a 4-vpar startpr Trmn's rwnrrl was
itor an incredible 111-14.
There was also something special about seeing
McKie and Mauldin native Kevin Garnett playing
for the same team in the McDonald's All-Star Game,
the premier high' school Ail-American event.
Watching two South Carolinians take the nation's
most extravagant stage with Dick Vitale, the voice of
college basketball commentating was something
most of the state wasn't accustomed to. BJ McEe
already was becoming a household name, and comparisons
to USC career scoring leader Alex English
were spawning.
South Carolina fans have always been famous for
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this time, it seemed that this was a can't-miss shot.
The fans were right.
McKie burst on the scene and wasted no time fitting
into his role. After scoring 17 points against
UNC-Greensboro in his first career contest, he
ended up averaging 15.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and
2.8 assists per game. He even finished in the top-10
in the Southeastern Conference in scoring, breaking
English's Carolina freshman scoring record for average
(15.4) and total points (478), but McKie proved
to be more than just numbers.
There was something admirable about him. He
possessed something you can't teach. McKie had
guts. He had a determination and a seize-the-day
style that fans loved.
I'll always remember the NIT quarter-final
matchup against conference foe Alabama. USC had
smoked the Crimson Tide earlier in the year, but this
game was different. The winner would advance to
the semifinals at New York's Madison Square
Garden, lb Carolina fans, deprived for years without
any success whatsoever, this felt like the national
championship.
With the game nearing the end, I remember
?1 i__ if.T/*- n i i 11 i .1
cietmy seeing ivicivie go arier a loose can ana, in tne
process, be pushed to the ground by a defender. It
seemed McKie slid about 10 feet and hit the photographers
underneath the basket. The crowd reaction
was deafening.
kl was sitting high in the rafters, but when McKie
McKlE continued on pag-rlO