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JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

From key freshman to senior leader, Maik Kotsar became special player

By Josh Hyber | Staff writer • Photos by Allen Sharpe

Maik Kotsar had 19 points and 10 rebounds in 37 minutes played, extending his careerbest streak to nine straight games with double-figure points, but the South Carolina senior saved his highlight moment for the final seconds.

With five seconds to go in overtime and the Gamecocks clinging to a two-point lead over Georgia on Feb. 26, Kotsar drew a charge on Bulldog point guard Sahvir Wheeler.

“I just saw him coming and knew I had to be on help defense,” Kotsar said though a wide smile. “And I guess I just stood there.”

He did, and it was a standout moment during South Carolina's late-season stretch.

A week later, Gamecock head coach Frank Martin restated the case for Kotsar to win SEC Defensive Player of the Year and elaborated on how the latter has been the underlying reason the Gamecocks have been so successful defensively over the past four seasons.

“It’s him. He’s the reason. He’s the reason that we’ve been that good defensively,” the coach said. “He’s the best team defender in the league. Maik’s always in the right place.”

Before the Gamecocks entered the SEC Tournament, Kotsar was first on the team in rebounds per game (6.3), blocks (34), field goals made (145) and third in points per game (11.2).

On Senior Night against Mississippi State, the Estonia native led the Gamecocks with 20 points, four assists and two rebounds.

“Kotsar is such a great player and such a problem. … He’s like automatic from 17 feet. He’s going to make a lot of money playing basketball for a long time,” Bulldogs head coach Ben Howland said. “ … [He] was really good as a freshman. We played him. I remember. They beat us twice that year.

“… Kotsar is special. With his ball-handling skills, his passing skills, his footwork, his lateral quickness, to go with that body, he can play in the NBA. … He’s a special talent and a great kid. He’s an all-league player, first team in the SEC.”

“To play my last game at the CLA and get the win, just to play with the guys one last time, it meant a lot,” Kotsar said. “You can always do better, but at the same time I feel like we fought really hard.

“It was a great way to go out.”

Added Martin, “When you’re a college coach, you coach to see guys like Maik Kotsar. That’s what it’s all about. I’m real proud of him.”

In the end, Kotsar was named a secondteam All-SEC member but did not make the conference's all-defensive team.

The first thing Martin mentioned when asked about Kotsar’s legacy was, “that 15-foot jump shot.”

“If you look back on his freshman year, he made one to send us to like the most incredible moment this university has ever experienced in men’s basketball,” Martin said, referring to a transition jumper Kotsar sank that gave South Carolina a 67-63 lead with 1:55 remaining in its Elite Eight win over Florida in 2017. “And if you

keep hitting fast forward, his senior year has been just full of 15-foot jump shots.

“And then his courage. … [To] leave his family behind and come to a country, to learn the game of basketball, to play it competitively against the best, I’ve challenged him a lot. … Last year I was really hard on him, because he needed it.

“He can be so good.”

That sentiment was echoed after Kotsar scored 10 points

and grabbed six rebounds against LSU. After that game, despite a Gamecock loss, Will Wade mentioned how Kotsar does a lot of “big-time” things.

“They’re not the same team without him,” the Tigers head coach said.

Seven days earlier, Rick Barnes expressed similar sentiments.

“[After the game] I told [Maik] I love him,” the Tennessee head coach said. “I’ve enjoyed competing against him as much as I have anyone we’ve played in my time at Tennessee because of how much he’s developed and how much he works and stretched his game. To me he’s turned into what I think Frank wants in a player.”

Kotsar’s senior season success can be linked to his increased confidence and focus. Despite struggles throughout his career — and at times harsh criticism from Martin — he worked on believing in himself. He slowly became a vocal leader, which he credits to the coaching staff.

“He never, never ran away, whether it was from not playing well, whether it’s from the responsibilities, whether it’s me down his throat to play better. He’s continued to grow and that’s all you ever ask for as a coach,” Martin said.

Kotsar started on the Gamecocks’ Final Four team and was a glue piece alongside Sindarius Thornwell, P.J. Dozier, Duane Notice and Chris Silva. He accepted his role and was — to use Martin’s words — “at peace” with it.

Gradually his role increased, and it took time and maturation to become accus

He’s the reason that we’ve been that good defensively. He’s the best team defender in the league. Maik’s always in the right place.

– FRANK MARTIN

tomed to it. It took patience and willingness to work.

That’s what Martin will remember most and be the proudest about when he reflects on Kotsar’s career.

“That’s the only thing that matters,” the coach said. “Because when Maik is done here in a couple months and gets his degree and walks out the door, he’s in real life. It’s no longer Frank being hard on him. No, life is going to be hard on him every day for the rest of his life. Not Frank. Life.

“Hopefully we’ve helped prepare him so he can handle adversity … on his journey to success.”

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