Starting Five With Brian Steele

Nov. 5, 2014

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina junior forward Brian Steele sat down with GamecocksOnline.com this week for our web series, “Starting Five With Brian Steele.” The series will highlight a different member of the Gamecock men’s basketball team with each edition. The junior walked on to the team in 2012 and has played in 29 games through his first two seasons.

Q: What went into the decision to walk on at USC to play for Coach Martin?
A: Coming out of high school I was thinking about going to prep school. I was working out with this guy Mike Morrison and he told me he knew Brad Underwood (former USC assistant coach) who was here and I just ended up getting in touch with Brad about walking on and he said it would be a good option for me. I’ve always followed USC and it was something I wanted to be a part of – the rebuilding process and making USC basketball great again.

Q: What was an important step you took to develop last season, and what have you been working on to prepare for this season?
A: Last year was really just working on my body and my foot speed. I’ve always been able to shoot a little bit and I always play hard, but I’ve always been really slow and it has hindered me on the defensive end. I’ve really worked on being able to guard the ball and understand our concepts better. Coming up this season has really been the same: trying to get faster, more explosive. Really fine tuning what I’m good at and trying to become the best shooter I can.

Is there a particular game or road trip that you’re looking forward to most this season?
A: There’s a bunch, but I’m definitely looking forward to Clemson. They’ve got the win over us my first two years and that doesn’t sit well with me and I know it doesn’t sit well with the guys in our locker room.

What has been your favorite moment so far as a Gamecock?
A: My favorite moment was in my freshman year. We were doing a loose-ball drill and Austin Constable and I were the last two guys in it and it just became this battle royale. It went on for a couple minutes, it started at the baseline and Austin and I wound up on the other side of the floor. We came back down and I ended up knocking over Frank Martin on the baseline. We always still joke about it.

What do you hope to do after your playing career is over?
A: I’m a sports management major, but I really want to be a basketball coach. I want to stay in the game of basketball, I can’t imagine life without basketball. Hopefully I’ll end up playing overseas, but if I can’t play I want to coach.

South Carolina hosts North Florida in its season opener on Nov. 14 at Colonial Life Arena. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m., ET.