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Gamecock Basketball ~ “ Last season, Chuck Eidson went from being a nervous freshman to South Carolina's by Rick Johnston The Gamecock In a long-standing tradition of“su per-sophomores” at USC, including such legendary names of John Roche, Kevin Joyce, and BJ McKie, sophomore Chuck Eidson is poised to lead this year’s team and carve his own niche in the Caroli na record books. Eidson exploded onto the scene last year as a freshman. An early commit ment to Carolina, as he announced his college decision as a junior, Eidson was a highly sought recruit, coming from Pinewood Prep in Summerville, where he was a three-time SCISA Player of the Year and averaged 30 points a game as a senior. Eidson’s role has been varied in his short career at Carolina. Listed as a for ward, he started the year in that posi tion. However, when starting point guard Aaron Lucas went down with an injury, Eidson was moved to the starting point guard spot. On the year, Eidson recorded 128 assists. Upon Lucas’ return, Edison served as a backup point guard as well as shoot ing guard and forward. It was that ver satility that made Eidson such a solid player, drawing praise from opposing coaches’ all season long. Auburn head coach Cliff Ellis called Eidson “the best young talent in the Southeast.” This sea son, however, Eidson hopes to make an impact at any position. “It’s really up to (Eddie Fogler’s) discretion,” Eidson _ said. Every team we play gives a different scenario where I can be effective.” With the gradua tion of Herbert Lee Davis, Eidson is the leading scorer among the Gamecocks re turning this year, av eraging 9.1 points per game last year. How ever, Eidson will not be looked upon as a primary scorer this season. “If the guys need me to score dur ing a game, I can do it,” Eidson said. “We have a good nucleu' of guys returning, sc any of them will be a threat to score big on any given night.” Eidson also broke Carolina’s single season steals record, totaling 93 steals on the year for an almost 3-per game av erage. “I think Coach Fogler’s whole atti tude for this team has been to step up on defense. He knows we can score, but we won’t win any games if we don’t stop the other team from scoring,” Eidson said. Although Eidson is a prominent fig ure in the Gamecock lineup, he says his example of leadership is through his play ing. “I lead through my playing, and not so much through my talking. We have plenty of leaders like that on this team, like David Ross and Aaron Lucas, so my job is just to go out and play hard,” Ei ^lA Eidson says that his versatility helps his play. “Because I am versatile, I can be looked for scoring one night if the team needs me, but I’m also good to go for a big night in assists or whatever the team needs from me,” Eidson said. The Gamecocks ended their season with a strong finish in the SEC tourna ment. The finish, along with the high ly-touted recruiting class and Eidson’s strong freshman season has caused the Gamecocks to have some preseason hype. “I think we are preseason No. 4 in the (SEC) East, so there are some peo ple who are doubting us, which we don’t mind. Wfe like to play the underdog role,” Eidson said. Despite the hype and expectations, Eidson says that there is not a lot of pres sure on the team to live up to them. However, one key game that Eidson points to on the schedule is the Jan. 20 game at home against Auburn. It was the Tigers that ousted the Gamecocks from the SEC Tournament last year, ending the unbelievable run. “This year they have to come to Frank McGuire (Arena) and we want to walk out with the ‘W’ like we should have done last year,” Eidson said. As for the team’s goals, one is to make it back to the NCAA Tournament, which the Gamecocks have not done since 1998. WUVIUUM)' W1IC11 yuu lUUfv. at UlC big goals, you want to win the national championship, but you have to make the little goals first,” Edson said. “We want to get back into the big dance and hope fully win the SEC title along the way.” Edson says that this team can make it to the NCAA tournament this year be cause the team has an unselfish attitude, and points to changes in folks over last year, like Lucas. “Aaron didn’t take a shot in the last exhibition game and did really well spreading the court and getting the ball to other guys, but if we need him to score, we know he can and will score,” Edson said. Although this Gamecock team, in cluding Eidson himself, is very young, he says the Gamecocks are ready to take on the challenges of this new season. “We are ready to get out and play with the big dogs,” Eidson said. Right Eidson dri ves on Florida's Brett Nelson; Bottom right Eidson tries to penetrate a tight Syracuse defense for two points; Bottom left Eidson records one of his SEC leading 93 steals against Mississippi State. The Chuck Eidson Eb Yean Sophomore Position: Guard/Forward Ht/Wt 6-7,205 lbs. Hometown: Summerville (Pinewood Prep) Major Retailing Born: Oct. 10, 1980 in Easley When Chuck was little, he wanted to be a: bas ketball player Greatest athletic thrill: the 2000 SEC Tournament and winniig two S.C. state championships