Nov. 6, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today’s exhibition contest vs. Allen marks the first-ever meeting between the two Columbia-based schools. The Yellow Jackets are led by head coach Nelson Jones in his first season, while Carolina is led by fourth-year head coach Frank Martin.

HALFTIME HONORS

Gamecock Athletics and head coach Frank Martin announced earlier this week that during halftime of the exhibition vs. Allen, the nine victims of the Emanuel AME Church shooting and their families in attendance will be honored at Colonial Life Arena. The ceremony will take place at the beginning of halftime.

RETURNING FOR THE GAMECOCKS

This year’s squad is comprised of eight returning letterwinners, including four returning starters in senior forwards Laimonas Chatkevicius and Michael Carrera, and junior guards Duane Notice and Sindarius Thornwell. The Gamecocks return at least 72 percent of their stats in every major category from last season. In returning four of their top five scorers, led by Notice’s 11.7 points per game last season, the Gamecocks will see 78.7 percent of their scoring output, 78.7 percent of made field goals and 83.3 percent of made 3-point field goals back on the court for 2015-16.

GAMECOCKS WELCOME SEVEN NEWCOMERS

Joining the group of returners is a strong and highly-touted rookie class led by McDonald’s All-American PJ Dozier, and forward Chris Silva, one of the top-ranked inside players in the country. Also joining the squad are guards Jamall Gregory and John Ragin and forwards Eric Cobb, Raymond Doby and transfer Jarrell Holliman. Dozier, a lengthy and tall point guard, averaged 19 points and six assists per game during his senior season of high school. Silva and Gregory are noted as athletic players who can change games with their explosive moves to the basket and Cobb, Doby and Holliman bring a size element to the court that the Gamecocks haven’t seen of late.

2015-16 SCHEDULE

Another challenging schedule awaits the Gamecocks, keeping with Martin’s goal of preparing his team for the rigors of the SEC campaign with one of the top non-conference schedules in the country. Carolina travels to a destination tournament for the fourth-straight season, competing in the Paradise Jam in late November in the U.S. Virgin Islands. An away matchup with Clemson and a neutral site meeting with St. John’s highlight December, and the Gamecocks welcome Memphis to Colonial Life Arena in early January. Norfolk State, Western Carolina and Drexel also travel to Columbia this season in non-conference action. Southeastern Conference play will begin for the Gamecocks at Auburn on Jan. 5. Carolina will face Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Missouri and Alabama in home-and-home series this season. Vanderbilt, Florida, and Kentucky will also travel to Columbia in league play.