GG Jackson, Hayden Brown talk emotional moment after season-ending loss
A shot sailed wide. The buzzer sounded on not just South Carolina’s game with Ole Miss, but the Gamecocks’ entire season.
In that moment and the waning time left on the court, GG Jackson stopped in his tracks. He pulled his shirt over his face, visibly emotional. Hayden Brown quickly rushed over, embracing the 18-year-old.
That hug–in what could be the final college game for both players–exemplified their relationship since Jackson stepped on campus in late July.
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“He grabbed me, I felt sweat a little bit, but I want to thank Hayden as well. I never had a big brother in my life, I always had a big sister annoying me,” Jackson said. “But to have someone that can lead that way on a team, on a Power Five team, on an SEC team, the best conference in college basketball, says a lot about the kind of player he is.”
Brown’s been somewhat of a mentor to Jackson, trying to guide him through what’s been a tumultuous year for Jackson and the Gamecocks.
In that moment, Brown wasn’t thinking about his college career expiring. He was thinking more about Jackson and the impact he had on Brown.
“I wanted to thank him just for the teammate that he’s been. There’s been some ups and downs, but he’s just been a teammate,” Brown said. “I was just so thankful to have had this year with him. I hope that I’ve encouraged him or taught him or exemplified something to him.”
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Jackson is the only one of the two who has a decision to make. The potential first-round, or even lottery pick, in this year’s NBA Draft has to choose whether or not to go pro or come back for another season.
For Brown, though, his college eligibility is exhausted. He’ll focus now on whatever is next after South Carolina while hoping what he helped build at South Carolina is personified in guys like Jackson.
“It just means a whole lot. This game means a whole lot to me. My teammates mean a whole lot to me. The coaching staff means a whole lot to me,” he said. “I just wanted to hopefully just encourage (Jackson) in that moment. Because this kid has a crazy career ahead of him, he really does.”
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South Carolina’s season wrapped Wednesday with a 67-61 loss to the Rebels. It’s the end to what was a season full of growing pains in year one under Lamont Paris.
But the hope is a foundation was laid this season with guys like Brown and Jackson and can be pointed to if the Gamecocks do ultimately surge to the upper echelons of the SEC.
“Coach Paris told us in the locker room this team will be remembered, for sure,” Jackson said. “Because it’s the start of something great.”
