South Carolina basketball preseason profiles: Zach Davis
Lamont Paris’ South Carolina basketball team begins their season in less than a month. On November 4th, the North Florida Ospreys will travel to Colonial Life Arena for the opener, and the 2024-2025 Gamecock season officially will be underway. In the weeks leading up to the first game, GamecockCentral will profile each member of the team. Today we will look at returning wing player Zach Davis.
Zach Davis (Junior, Small Forward/Shooting Guard, 6’7”, 200 pounds)
Last Season: 33 games (17 starts), 5.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.2 blocks, 43.2%/25%/66.7%
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As a sophomore, Zach Davis began last season as a key bench piece. However, as Myles Stute dealt with injuries, the Palmetto State native entered the starting lineup and never looked back.
A defensive-minded player first, Davis also played more aggressively on offense in his new role. He logged five of his six double-digit scoring efforts as a starter. He became a proficient baseline driver (especially from the right side) and used his athleticism to get to the rim or create playmaking opportunities as a passer.
As a defender, Zach Davis is good in man-to-man, but he’s outstanding in zone. When the Gamecocks ran their 1-3-1, Davis often was at the top of the zone, and his length and quickness made life very difficult for opposing guards. In man, he will be the top choice to guard other teams’ top perimeter players when on the floor. He also is the type of defensive player who creates opportunities for his teammates because of his effort.
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Davis was a high school point guard, and while he won’t play the spot for the Gamecocks, with the team’s question marks at the position, secondary ballhandling and playmaking will be very important this season. Davis can provide that for South Carolina. If he improves on his 25% 3-point shooting from last season, he has big-time impact potential.
Right now, it is impossible to know if Davis or Myles Stute (or both) will get the starting nod on the wing from Lamont Paris to start the year. However, both players should play big roles and will be important parts of the rotation. Because of Davis’ length and athletic traits, he can play alongside all types of other players, just so long as there are some shooters on the floor flanking him.
Davis and the Gamecocks hope to follow up a record-tying 26-win season and 2nd-place SEC finish with another strong year. Another trip to the NCAA Tournament would mark South Carolina’s first back-to-back berths in the Big Dance since the 1990s.
