The South Carolina basketball team got the official signed papers from point guard Jaylen Shaw and now it appears the 2013 recruiting class is complete.

This is not a surprise but is worth a mention on this Gamecocks blog as we see huge upside for Shaw at USC. Go back and watch the highlight videos that we posted - here. Now you see what we are thinking?

He plays better than his three-star rating and is somewhat of a "steal" in our view. Shaw is from Hartsville, South Carolina where he averaged 23 points, 8 assists and 3 steal’s during his senior year for the Hartsville Red Foxes. He also led his team to back-to-back AAA State Championships.  Can we say 'leader' and 'baller' ?

He has the ideal height in a point guard at 6'1" and just that is slightly different that what USC has had in years past. The point guard was always a little shorter. This change alone is a good one but Shaw is also very good with the ball. He is a good athlete that knows how to move without the ball and distribute the ball. Look for him to be the kind of passer USC has been lacking along with being a attacker of the lane. Oh, and he is a great three ball shooter. This too is a plus and will result in playing time at USC. 

Overall, look for Shaw to create and that is something Coach Frank Martin and the fans want. 

Love the message that Demetrius Henry sent out the other day:

Trying to build something special at USC

— Demetrius Henry (@ptp_meat) May 2, 2013

Make no mistake about it, this is now Coach Frank Martin's basketball team at South Carolina now. He has "his players" in place for the 2013-14 season as he pretty much cleaned house to make room for his new recruits.

Gone is Damien Leonard, Eric Smith, RJ Slawson and Brian Richardson. They will be missed but this is best for the program. With four players leaving, in addition to seniors Lakeem Jackson and LaShay Page, Carolina will add seven newcomers for the upcoming season.

Anyone who follows Gamecock basketball knew this was bound to happen. You could see it on Coach Martin's face this past season, he hated losing and the team just did not have his style of play.

This is a new chapter for USC basketball and one we welcome. We are excited for the future of the Gamecocks basketball program.

South Carolina basketball had a "you win some, you lose some" kind of week recently as they missed out on the recruitment of Darryl Reynolds yet landed Demetrius Henry.

Darryl Reynolds, a power forward, selected Villanova over the Gamecocks and Utah on Tuesday. Then yesterday, 2013 forward recruit Demetrius Henry announced his commitment to the Gamecocks. So at least the week ended on a good note, right?

The Gamecocks and the fans had hope to land both to add key depth around the rim. Getting one out of the two is fine as it adds to the many building blocks for Coach Frank Martin in charting out a new direction for this program. A direction we are excited about.

We hate to see Reynolds chose 'Nova but good luck to him playing close to home.

As for Henry, the Gamecocks get the kind of low-post presence needed in Columbia. I venture to say we got the better of the two.

Henry is one of eight new faces on the team, including transfer Tyrone Johnson, for the Gamecocks next season. This seals it now as this is Coach Martin's team now.

According to The Lufkin News, current South Carolina men's basketball associate coach Brad Underwood will be named the next head coach of Stephen F. Austin.

This could happen as "early as Tuesday." Underwood has spent one year at USC with Coach Frank Martin.

It is not a complete shock to see him go as he felt shafted after Kansas State did not name him the top guy after Martin left. So the yearn to be a head coach was a known itch and one he needed to satisfy. The chance to be part of the Lumberjack staff appears to be a situation ripe for him in his coaching career and we here at LOHD wish him the best if he decides to go.

We know Coach Frank Martin will fill the gap with a top assistant. The 2013-14 squad will have new faces, both with players and now with a coach. Regardless, we trust Martin to take USC basketball to a new respectable level.

The South Carolina basketball team needs to land this local product as Seventh Woods is a straight baller...check this video of this Class of 2016 recruit:

Oh, keep in mind he is just 14 years old.

The South Carolina Gamecocks basketball program has gotten two pieces of good news this week from Jaylen Shaw and Duane Notice as both have pledged to be future members of Coach Frank Martin's squad.

Today, South Carolina landed a commitment from Hartsville point guard Jaylen Shaw and the earlier in the week guard Duane Notice verbally committed to South Carolina.

Here is video of Shaw:

Here is video of Notice:

Both are great additions to the squad and these are Coach Martin-type players. We are glad to see the new pieces to the program as we have high hopes for Coach Martin..

These two additions join in-state talents Sindarious Thornwell, Justin McKie, Desmond Ringer and transfer Tyrone Johnson as part of the new face of South Carolina basketball.

South Carolina (14-17, 4-14 SEC) can win the SEC Tourney. There, I said it. I have hope but I also know they have a long climb to that mountain top as they have earned the No. 12 seed. This means they must win five games....tough-sledding. 

The Gamecocks begin the journey against No. 13 seed Mississippi State (9-21, 4-14 SEC) in the opening round of the 2013 SEC Tournament, set to be held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., March 13-17. Game time is set for 7:30 pm on Wednesday.

USC will need a strong showing from their guards if they want to win this game. It is possible as USC has beaten MSU before, most recentyly about a week ago.

The winner of the South Carolina versus Mississippi State contest will advance to face fifth-seeded Tennessee. Which is winnable but first they must get past the Bulldogs.

Here is the full bracket....

2013 SEC Tournament Bracket

I hope the Gamecocks can pull off a miracle and win the SEC tourney, don't you?

Coach Frank Martin changed his substitution strategy Wednesday night, and the result was a 63-62 win over Ole Miss.  The Gamecocks didn't play as many players as they usually do.  After the Alabama game, Coach had indicated that not everyone on the bench would play.

Eight players saw action in the win.  Carrera, Chatkevicius, Ellington, Smith and Jackson started.  Only Slawson, Williams and Richardson came off the bench.  Several times during the game it looked like the Gamecocks were gassed, but Coach Martin stuck with his strategy, and it worked.

No doubt the South Carolina men's basketball team is struggling and one could only imagine the frustration that Coach Frank Martin is going through. However, one thing is certain and that is we, the fans, must continue to support our beloved Gamecocks. So in that spirit, here is a open letter to Coach Martin:

Dear Coach,

Hope this letter finds you doing well. Love the garnet jacket you are sporting lately and keep on rockin' that bow tie. I write you today to say one thing - Keep the faith.

I know it is frustrating and I know your drive is intense. I too hate losing but I know that you are the right guy for the job. As you can see, you have a challenge to take a program that was near rock bottom and building it up again. I blame Dave Odom and Darrin Horn for leaving you not a lot to work with. But like I said, you are the right man for the job and I hope you have the patience necessary to build what could be a great SEC college basketball program.

We here at LOHD support you and your staff. You will turn this ship around. You have the best fans in college sports behind you. Just like Steve Spurrier did and Ray Tanner, you have to make this program yours. It will take time and that will make it so much more special. I can recall the 1-10 season in football and the 0-11. It was ugly but look at it now. This is similar as you have hit a rough patch but through staying the course, you will take this program it great places as I can see it in your eyes.

As mommy use to say, "good things come to those that wait." I feel it applies here as you are building a program and I know that the drive in you will make this into something special in about five years. We got your back Coach.

Keep the faith,

LOHD