Head coach Lamont Paris announced the hiring of Sam Dekker as an assistant coach, tasking the former NBA swingman with leading player development for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Dekker arrives after an 11‑year professional playing career that spanned NBA rosters and leagues in Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Spain, where his most productive season came with the London Lions, averaging 17.5 points per game.
From Player to Mentor
During his collegiate years at Wisconsin, Dekker played three seasons under Paris (2012‑15), helping the Badgers to a 91‑24 record, back‑to‑back Final Four appearances and a national championship game, while earning two All‑Big Ten selections and being named the 2015 NCAA West Regional Most Outstanding Player after a 27‑point performance against Arizona.
His professional résumé also includes stints with PBC Lokomotiv Kuban, Türk Telekom B.K., Bahçeşehir Koleji S.K. and Club Joventut Badalona, experiences that broadened his tactical understanding and reinforced a commitment to mentorship.
Off the court, Dekker is married to Olivia Dekker and is the father of two sons, Harlan and Christian, and he will now channel his extensive playing background into shaping the next generation of Gamecocks talent.