Jan. 22, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Devan Downey from the men’s basketball team has been named AgSouth Athlete of the Week.

Downey scored 28 points, grabbed six steals – including five in the first half – and was nine of 11 from the free-throw line including two crucial makes from the charity stripe with 5.5 ticks on the clock to seal the 70-66 Gamecock victory in Fayetteville over Arkansas.

Leading the SEC in scoring in SEC games (24.7 ppg to Marcus Thorton’s 22.8 ppg at LSU) and second only to Shan Foster by a half-a-point (Foster has 20.1 ppg and Downey has 19.6 ppg) in all games, Downey has started and scored double figures every game this season. He has scored 20+ in eight games including the last three straight.

Prior to the 2007-08 season, Rivals.com named Downey the top impact transfer in the country. He was also a Cousy Award nominee.