Hayden Brown, GG Jackson share emotions over season-ending loss at SEC Tournament

As South Carolina‘s season came to an end on Wednesday, Hayden Brown was moved to tears for a myriad of reasons.

Yes, the Gamecocks just lost a heartbreaker, but it was the final time he’d share the court with his teammates, including Gregory “GG” Jackson. The two shared an emotional embrace on the court following the loss to Ole Miss, and afterwards Brown explained what was going through his mind.

“I think it’s emotional for a lot of different reasons,” started Brown. “We obviously know mine. I just wanted to thank him (Jackson), just for the teammate that he’s been. There’s been some ups and downs, but he’s just been a teammate, and I was just so thankful to have had this year with him. I hope that I’ve encouraged him, or taught him. Exemplified something to him. It just means a whole lot.

“This game means a whole lot to me. My teammates mean a whole lot to me. My coaching staff means a whole lot to me. So I just wanted to hopefully encourage him in that moment, because this kid has a crazy career ahead of him. He really does. So I just wanted to encourage him.”

Afterwards, Jackson had a response that may make you shed a tear when you think about the special relationship the Gamecocks teammates had.

“In those moments, you grabbed me and all I felt was his sweat a little bit, but I wanted to thank Hayden as well,” added Jackson. “I never really had a big brother in my life. I always had a big sister annoying me. But to have someone that can lead that way on the team. On a Power Five team, an SEC team, the best conference in college basketball. It says a lot about the kind of player that he is.

“He always has this one quote that we would say a lot, ‘The river is going to keep flowing.’ We fought hard tonight. But like I said, I just want to thank him for just being that big brother to me.”

The South Carolina Gamecocks season was a rollercoaster, but it’s evident the foundation is being laid when you see this visceral response from players when their season ends. The future is bright for the program.