The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, June 13, 2001, Page 9, Image 9
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This Week in USC Sports History
S 1993 - Head basketball coach Eddie Fogler signed his first
recruiting class at Carolina. Among the seven signees were
Malik Russell and George Formanek.
"IChe ©amecock Page 9
In the cards
MLB draft snares six Gamecocks, three USC signees
by David Cloninoer
The Gamecock
Two days after having its dreams of a berth in
the College World Series ended by Stanford, the
South Carolina baseball team experienced another
loss in the Major League Baseball First-Year
Player Draft.
Six current Gamecocks and three USC
signees were selected in the draft, with Marcus
McBeth, Kip Bouknight, Bryon Jeffcoat, Brett
Price and signees Gavin Floyd and Charles Lisk
taken June 5 and Michael Floyd, Tun Whittaker
and signee Matthew Campbell taken June 6.
Signee Gavin Floyd was the first Gamecock
to be chosen, taken by Philadelphia in the first
round. Floyd was the fourth overall pick, as well
as the first high-school pitcher chosen.
Floyd is the younger brother of current
Gamecock Michael Floyd, who was also chosen
by Philadelphia in the 22nd round. Though the
younger Floyd is expected to forego USC and turn
professional, both brothers are currently planning
to play for the Gamecocks next spring.
mis pians ana my plans are to come to south
Carolina,” Michael said. “Right now, we can’t say
what we’re definitely going to do.”
Michael led the Gamecocks in hitting this
season with a .350 average, highlighted by a 23
game hitting streak. The transfer from Virginia
worked his way into the starting lineup this season
and became an integral part of the Carolina
offense.
Gavin, meanwhile, is regarded as the second
best high school pitching prospect in the nation
this year. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound righthander has
a fastball that tops out around 97 miles per hour,
and is also an accurate hitter, batting .383 with 42
RBIs in his junior season.
Gavin is committed to USC and is in the same
situation shortstop Drew Meyer faced two years
ago. Meyer was drafted by the Dodgers and
offered a contract, but turned it down to play for
USC. Gavin now has until Aug. 23 to decide. If
he reports to class, he will be a Gamecock for the
next three years. Michael must make a similar
decision, but would only have to give up his
senior year of college.
Draft seepage 10
Athletics
Pictures by Sean Rayford, graphics by David Cloninger/The Gamecock
NBDL could
save NBA *■
from youth
movement
Rick Johnston
The Rick Says
You’ll have to pardon me, as I
didn’t rearrange my whole life for
the past week to watch that
wonderful bit of programming that
was Games 1-3 of the NBA finals.
The prospect of watching Shaq
and Kobe finally get over their
lover’s spat in time to steamroll
the Sixers in the finals just didn’t
do it for me.
So, as I wonder about the
future of the NBA, I look to the
upcoming draft. Oh boy, another
bunch of underclassmen and high
schoolers looking to make a lot of
money.
Such has been the vii/ture
circling the NBA the past few
seasons. While a lot of these
young players have talent, it’s raw
at best. The lack of refinement in
their games, coupled with lack of
maturity (and the idea of “me over
team” that comes with it), makes
for some bad basketball.
Given the fact the NBA has
seen its attendance dwindle and
ratings fall, they have finally wised
up and established the NBDL, or
National Basketball Development
League. Finally, the NBA will
have a place to allow these kids to
grow up, such as the minor league
systems have in baseball and
hockey.
Think about it — how many
times do you see an 18 year old
tearing up Major League Baseball?
With the notable recent exceptions
of Atlanta’s Andruw Jones and
Rafael Furcal, you haven’t. Even
these two logged time in the farm
Johnston see page 11