Lamont Paris updates injuries before Clemson game
South Carolina is heading into a rivalry game Friday night, and the Gamecocks are dealing with a handful of injuries before hosting Clemson.
Head coach Lamont Paris updated those injuries to big man Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk and point guard Meechie Johnson after practice Thursday, mentioning it looks like at least one will be available tomorrow.
“Both are progressing. Benjamin got some reps with us live today. That was good to see. It looks like he’ll be ready for the game in some capacity. We’ll see what that looks like on game day. But he looks to be available in some capacity tomorrow, so that’s good,” Paris said.
“He hadn’t gotten reps in a couple of days, so that’s good to see today. He’s an older guy, a vocal guy who’s comfortable talking out there. He’s comfortable getting some things figured out. That comes with age and experience. It’s good to have him out there.”
With Johnson, it seems like that’s more of a wait-and-see situation to see how his injury responds to treatment leading up to the game.
“Meechie is the same. He got some treatment today and yesterday,” Paris said. “We’ll see how it looks tomorrow. Some of it will just be how he responds.”
Subscribe until the 2023 football season for only $10!
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk didn’t play in Tuesday’s season-opener, an 80-77 win over South Carolina State. Bosmans-Verdonk is dealing with an ankle injury and, according to a spokesperson before the opener, is listed as day-to-day.
Paris said after that game it was a “we’ll see” situation. Bosmans-Verdonk made “tremendous progress” after getting banged up.
Bosmans-Verdonk, if healthy, would be one of the Gamecocks’ contributors. He started the exhibition game where he finished with five points and a team-high 12 rebounds.
Top 10
- 1
Micah Parsons
Saban offered as a RB
- 2
Lane Kiffin
Undercover drummer?
- 3Hot
NFL Mock Draft
QBs falling in ESPN 2-round mock
- 4
Scott Cochran
Former Bama assistant lands HC job
- 5
Leonard Hamilton
FSU coach to step down following season
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Win this print! Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina State Fair
“Everyone, before they come here, thinks it’s by scoring a bunch of points. Everyone. Trust me. Fifteen guys think that,” Paris said in the preseason. “But that’s only going to be the role for one guy, to be the leading scorer. (Bosmans-Verdonk is) really starting to hone in on how he can impact the game in a positive way. That role, why it may not be glamorous to someone else, is no less important.”
Johnson was in and out of the lineup Tuesday dealing with what looked like an ankle injury. Paris said postgame that, “knock on wood,” things didn’t look serious.
Garnet Trust: Support and connect with USC student-athletes
When in the game he was incredibly impactful, finishing with nine points on 3-for-7 shooting but was plus-10 on the night.
South Carolina hosts its annual rivalry game with Clemson Friday night (7 p.m., ESPN Plus) in what is both teams’ second game of the season.
Clemson also beat The Citadel 80-69 in the Tigers’ season opener Monday night. KenPom has Friday’s game as close to a toss up as it can possibly be.
KenPom considers South Carolina a one-point favorite and also gives the Gamecocks a 52 percent chance to win.
