Since 2008, when coach Dawn Staley arrived on campus, the Gamecocks have amassed SEC conference titles, Final Four appearances, and national titles. They knew exactly what to do when they secured their third consecutive trip to the Final Four with an 86-75 victory over No.2 Maryland, extending their undefeated season. It appears that they have had plenty of practice in cutting down the nets.
Freddy Ready’s Achievements with the Gamecocks
Freddy Ready, the team’s director of player development, who has been with the program since 2002, overseed the procedure. Being ready, staying true to his name, and after the Gamecocks’ second conference championship in 2015, he recognized the need for structure. He explained that there was a hiccup. If you let people cut willy-nilly, the nets will lose the structural integrity needed to be worn as a celebratory necklace. This is a rookie mistake. Under Staley, his program commits errors infrequently and seldom repeats them. So, Ready stood by the ladder, steadied players and team personnel as they ascended, and explained to them precisely where to cut.
Each person receives small pieces of the net. There is one exception: seniors. The graduating participants are permitted to take not only a single thread but also a complete nylon diamond. This requires some additional trimming. However, this is a privilege. Ready explains that if you cut too many diamonds, it will be ruined. Therefore, they only grant this privilege to seniors. There are likely no more deserving seniors than the current set.
This group represents the most accomplished recruiting class in the history of the program. In their four-year careers, “The Freshies,” which is the nickname they earned as undergraduates, have compiled a record of 129-8. South Carolina has gone from a rising power to a heavyweight that invites dynasty talk, and after winning the national champ last season, they are now the favorites to repeat.
Cut the Nets Into Pieces!
Their Elite Eight victory over Maryland proved this. The Terps began the game with speed and physicality, forcing turnovers and complicating the play in the half-court. After the first quarter, Maryland held a 21-15 lead over the Gamecocks. This was by far the Gamecocks’ toughest test in March. However, there was no sense of panic. Instead, South Carolina remained steadfast in its signature defense, gradually increasing the pressure until it was oppressive. South Carolina took advantage of the fact that Maryland was forced to bench its best players for extended stretches due to foul trouble. The victory made it simple to recall why the Gamecocks are unbeaten. It was also difficult to imagine how they could lose.
Under Freddy Ready’s watchful eye, the seniors had to ascend the ladder one by one to cut down and get pieces of the nets. He reminded them that they could now go for the diamond, however, most of them didn’t.
CJ Henderson Has Donated $250,000 to Renovate a Former High School
The star of the Jacksonville Jaguars, CJ Henderson, gave back to his local community by donating $250,000 to help renovate the training facility of the Columbus High School. Henderson was a top athlete at Columbus High School and was a four-star recruit in the 2017 recruiting class.
CJ Henderson Made the Donation to Give Back to the School That Gave Him So Much
In an interview, CJ Henderson said that his brother and he would never forget their experiences at Columbus. He added that the faculty and coaching staff were always ready to go above and beyond to help the students succeed. He remarked that his gift was a way to give back to the school that has helped him so much. He went on to say that it felt good to know that he would play a part in helping future student-athletes at Columbus High School.
The Columbus High School Is Getting New Massage Chairs, Training Tables, and Hydrotherapy
The renovations for the training facility of the Columbus High School will include new training tables, hydrotherapy, and massage chairs for the high school athletes. These new additions apparently meant a lot to CJ Henderson, and the high school will name the new facility The Henderson Family Training Center. The school has plans to complete the project in August.
Columbus president Thomas Kruczek said in an interview that the school was very grateful to CJ Henderson and his entire family for the generous gift. He added that the Henderson name will be placed on the facility to serve as an inspiration to all Columbus Explorers.
CJ Henderson is entering his second season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was picked in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Last season, he appeared in eight games and scored 36 tackles. He also managed to score one interception, one forced fumble, and six passes defended. His best performance was against the Los Angeles Chargers when he engaged in eight tackles. After last season’s performance, the Jaguars expect Henderson to improve his game in 2021. He will also have Urban Meyer as his new head coach.