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Home > SECWB News & More! > SEC Teams > South Carolina’s Rebuilding Task Just Got Tougher
South Carolina’s Rebuilding Task Just Got Tougher
by Marilyn McManus, SECWB.com
Posted: April 11th, 2007 @ 11:14am
Melanie Johnson, the most explosive player on the South Carolina women’s basketball team, has decided to pass up her final year of eligibility and turn professional. She has reportedly hired an agent and set up tryouts with several WNBA teams.
Johnson, a 6-2 forward, was named SEC Player of the Week early in the 2006 season, after a stellar performance against East Tennessee State University (23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals) on November 12, 2006. For the 2006-2007 season, she averaged 8.7 points per game and also led the team in rebounds ( 5.5 per game) and steals (1.97 per game). Her steals total ranked her 10th in the SEC. She was named to the All-SEC second team in 2005-2006.
The move leaves the Gamecocks with a total of 7 players, with varying degrees of playing experience, on their roster. Of those 7, Lauren “Cocoa” Falohun redshirted this season, with an injury to her left knee, and Ebony Jones is a walk-on who rarely sees action, although she does have a beautiful 3-point shooting touch. The other 5 returning players include Ilona Burgrova, Lakesha Tolliver and Demetress Adams in post positions and guards Brionna Dickerson and Kellindra Zackery.
Though the rumor is unconfirmed, there are rumblings that Zackery will transfer before the start of the 2007-2008 season. Said to be dissatisfied with her playing time during her freshman year, she is reportedly looking for a situation that will enable her to showcase her talents and improve her prospects for a professional basketball career after college. Considering that she has an extremely good chance of being either a starter or the 6th man for the Gamecocks next season, my unsolicited advice is to stay put and play hard. There is no better showcase than the SEC and Zackery should get plenty of chances to show her stuff, next season.
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