June 11, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina incoming freshman guard TeMarcus Blanton sat down with GamecocksOnline.com recently for our web series,”Starting Five With TeMarcus Blanton.” The series will highlight a different member of the Gamecock men’s basketball team with each edition. Blanton averaged 20.2 points, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals while registering almost eight rebounds per contest as a senior at Luella High School. The Locust Grove, Ga., native, who was the 2-AAAAAA Region Player of the Year last season, talked about why he chose to play for the Gamecocks and told us what aspects of his game he is working on this summer.

Q: Why did you choose to attend and play basketball for South Carolina and Coach Martin?
A: I chose South Carolina because it is a program that I believe is a future great and on the rise in the next two years because of the freshmen from last year and this year. I just wanted to be a part of it.

Q: If you could use three words to describe your style of play, what would they be and why?
A: Aggressive because I’m a physical player and I can play through contact; defensive because I’m a big defensive guy and if the coaches want me to lock someone up I can; and slasher because I’m really good to get to the rim and finish, and also my mid-range shot.

Q: Do you model your game after a particular professional player?
A: Dwyane Wade because he is a good slasher and he is athletic and has a good mid-range game.

Q: What aspect of your game are you working on the most during your time on campus this summer?
A: My ball handling and my 3-point jump shot.

Q: You helped lead your team to the state tournament for the second year in a row as a senior, winning a regional championship. Do you bring that winning mindset with you to South Carolina?
A: I definitely bring a winning mindset. I know what it takes to win. Even though we [high school team] advanced to the Elite 8, I know what it took to get there. I’m even more hungry, knowing that we didn’t win a state championship, to win an NCAA Championship.

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