For USC great Larry Davis, facing the Gamecocks serves as a homecoming

Michael Lananna

Wednesday night’s 7 p.m. exhibition between the South Carolina and Mars Hill men’s basketball teams won’t count toward either team’s win-loss records. But the game is still meaningful — for both sides.

For first-year USC head coach Lamont Paris, the meaning is obvious. The Gamecocks played a not-so-secret scrimmage against Charlotte and hosted a preseason fan event last week, but Wednesday’s game will mark the first time Paris, freshman phenom GG Jackson and the revamped Gamecocks will play an opposing school in front of a crowd at Colonial Life Arena. It gives Paris a chance to experiment with his lineup and gameplan before the season begins for real Nov. 8 against S.C. State.

On the other side, Mars Hill has a brand new head coach, too — and it happens to be a Gamecock legend. Former USC player Larry Davis took his first college head coaching job with the Lions in the spring, and poetically, he’ll make his collegiate coaching debut against his alma mater.

“It’s gonna be fun to come back home and play in front of family, friends and people that mean so much to me,” Davis told The State. “I consider that home. It’s great being home and to have this opportunity, and I’m really excited to see how my team will respond.”

Davis’ South Carolina roots run deep. A former “Mr. Basketball” in the state and the 1991 high school player of the year for Denmark-Olar, Davis started his career with Dean Smith’s North Carolina Tar Heels. But after being part of a national championship team in 1993, he transferred home and established himself as one of the top players in USC history. He still ranks second all-time, behind BJ McKie, with 1,068 points scored for the Gamecocks.

In the years since his playing career ended, Davis has bounced around the basketball coaching ranks. Most recently, he served as the head basketball coach and athletic director at York Preparatory Academy in Rock Hill, coaching the team for four years and serving as athletic director for the last two.

But coaching his own college team is the next step in his career. He still picks the brain of former USC head coach Eddie Fogler every chance he gets, sending him videos of players and practice drills and asking for feedback. Current UNC head coach Hubert Davis was a teammate in 1993 and took Larry Davis under his wing; he’s another mentor. So, too, is former Gamecock and current Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton.

Now Davis will have the opportunity to put what he’s learned into practice and do it in front of his hometown crowd. Two of his sons, Kory and Kendall Davis, played for him at York Prep and followed him to Mars Hill, and they’ll be able to bask in the homecoming, as well.

“I’ve been so busy trying to get our kids acclimated to how we’re gonna play and get them locked in, and I haven’t had a chance to really think about it a whole lot,” Davis said. “But I’m sure right before the game there will be some emotions there.

“I’m sure that during game time those emotions will take over, but hopefully we can keep them in check and have a good performance and showing.”

Marvin Hires, a 6-foot-6 senior forward from Dreher High School, will also be able to play in front of his family and friends, and Davis said he expects Hires to play a big role Wednesday night. Other players to keep an eye on include both Davis brothers — especially Kory Davis — and veteran forwards Isaiah Jones and Rajuan Conner. Guard Kadyn Dawkins is the reigning South Atlantic Conference freshman of the year, but Davis said Dawkins might not be available Wednesday.

As for Davis’ alma mater, Davis said he’s spent some time getting to know Paris as they’ve crossed paths in recent months, and he believes the Gamecocks are in the right hands with him moving forward.

“Coach Paris is one of the young and up-and-coming brilliant minds in the game of basketball,” Davis said. “He’s building something special in Columbia with the young men that he’s been able to attract, keep those guys home. He’s surrounded himself with a great coaching staff that are knowledgeable and that are really, really good.

“I think we’re heading in the right direction in terms of putting the program back up to a position where they can be respected in the SEC.”

South Carolina basketball: Next four games

  • Wednesday — vs. Mars Hill/exhibition (no TV or stream)

  • Nov. 7 — vs. SC State (SEC Network)

  • Nov. 11 — vs. Clemson (SEC Network Plus)

  • Nov. 17 — vs. Colorado State/at Charleston Classic (ESPNU)

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