Gamecocks Add Scoring Punch in Hutchs Gonner
Josh Gonner, a cat-quick 6-2, 180 pound shooting guard from Hutchinson C.C. in Hutchinson, Kan., has signed with South Carolina.
Gonner told JUCO Junction that he signed with the Gamecock program last week, but that the school can't announce it until all of the paperwork is complete and processed.
Advertisement
Gonner picked South Carolina over East Carolina. He visited both schools in April and also considered Southeast Missouri State and Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
"The chance to play in the SEC was a big factor," Gonner told JUCO Junction on Tuesday. "They both had good facilities and are both good schools, but I just chose South Carolina."
Gonner enjoyed a terrific sophomore campaign for the Blue Dragons in 2002-2003, averaging 18.5 points per game in earning first team all-Jayhawk West Conference honors. He has good quickness and athleticism, and isn't afraid to take a big shot during crunch time.
Back at the Jayhawk Shootout in December, Gonner single-handedly led Hutch to a come from behind victory over Johnson County C.C. It was an impressive performance that JUCO Junction caught in person at Coffeyville C.C. in Kansas.
"I will bring leadership and lots of energy," Gonner said of his anticipated contributions at South Carolina. "I am probably more of a wing, but they might use me at both the one and two positions next year."
Gonner's older brother, Dainmon, sat out at Southeast Missouri State this year. Both played together at Hutch in 2001-2002.
Illinois seriously pursued Gonner this spring, due to uncertainty over the academic situation of fall high school recruit Richard McBride. But then the Illini staff left to take over the reins at Kansas, effectively ending their recruitment of Gonner.
Gonner will have two years of eligibility at South Carolina. Current Gamecock junior Kerbrell Brown played in the same junior college league as Gonner from 2000-2002.