BJ Mack goes in-depth on why he chose South Carolina
When Gamecocks’ signee BJ Mack entered the transfer portal for the second time in his career, he went in with a better sense of what to expect.
He knew what he was looking for in a school and a coaching staff and, after a weeks-long recruitment process, he found exactly that at South Carolina.
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“I’ve been lied to before but it’s been very genuine (with South Carolina) since the beginning. Coach Paris knows my game a lot. We played against each other for two years before he came to South Carolina,” Mack told GamecockCentral.
“That was a big plus going to a coach who’s done their research on me and not just looking at stats…Being able to be close to home. I still want to be able to play in front of my family and this will be another great opportunity for that.”
South Carolina made Mack, who is coming off two very productive years at Wofford, a priority since the second he jumped into the portal.
Lamont Paris postponed his trip to Nashville for the SEC Tournament to meet with Mack then the entire Gamecocks staff met with him a week later.
He was consistently at the top of the South Carolina board, and that went a long way for the two-time All-SoCon big man.
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“It was big. The first person to call me was coach Paris when I went into the portal. He came and visited me here at school so that was a really big deal for me. He was the first coach to visit me in person,” Mack said.
“I was like, ‘I can see the difference between the coach who says they really want me and I’m a priority’ to I’m being shown that by a team and school like South Carolina if a head coach is doing that.”
The Gamecocks’ official visit sold the deal at the end of April. Mack wrapped that up, shut down his recruitment and committed to South Carolina less than a week later.
“It was a very big visit for me. It showed me a lot between being wanted and being needed. Everyone was genuine to me and my family,” he said. “The love from the fans was there. We went to a baseball game adn fans were starting a cheer for me to come. It was a very genuine and loving feeling there.”
And he’ll be a big piece for a South Carolina team that is trying to get older and add more shooting to the roster.
Mack has played 2,430 minutes in college. Over the last two seasons at Wofford, he’s averaged almost 30 minutes per game, 16.5 points and 5.8 rebounds. Mack’s shot 51.4 percent from the field while going 37.6 percent from three.
He averaged 16.6 points while being one of the most efficient players in the SoCon. He did it for a Wofford team that ranked No. 325 nationally in Division I experience.
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“They like how versatile I am and I bring leadership. I was just on a team with eight freshmen and only four people returning. And one of the returners was a walk-on. We were the second-youngest team in the SoCon and one of the youngest teams in the country,” he said.
“Being able to show I have leadership qualities and skills to bring that to South Carolina and show that. But then with my versatility and being older with my IQ, I can see how this guy is reading me or playing me or everyone else around.”
In three games against SEC teams last year–road games at LSU, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M–he averaged 15.7 points, 5.7 rebounds with a three-to-two assist-to-turnover ratio. He shot 45 percent from the field, 52.4 percent from two and 36.8 percent from the line.
“I played against SEC teams at Wofford and I was able to show I can compete at the SEC level. Keying in on that,” Mack said. “I know playing against a team like Vandy and playing Liam (Robbins), he was a defensive nightmare for teams. I know things I can do to help myself and show the NBA I can play at the highest level.”
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He’s one of four transfer portal commitments South Carolina has, joining Myles Stute (Vanderbilt), Stephen Clark (The Citadel) and Ta’Lon Cooper (Minnesota).
Mack thinks with those four guys–plus who the Gamecocks are returning–can help this team take a big jump.
“I wanted to go somewhere where I can compete at the highest level. South Carolina plays in the SEC. looking at the roster they have with guys like Ta’Lon, Myles, Meechie (Johnson). I’ve known Jacobi (Wright) playing for AAU,” Mack said. “Then you have Stephen Clark who I played against at The Citadel. They have a roster and guys in place to compete at a high level. Adding me, we can get it done at an even higher level.”
