Gamecock's value not measured in numbers

Dominique Archie doesn't dazzle anyone with numbers.

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AP / File

South Carolina senior forward Dominique Archie, a former Josey standout, doesn't post gaudy numbers, but he is invaluable to head coach Darrin Horn because of his versatility.

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Sure, the former Josey start has started all 93 games of his college career at South Carolina. He's just 59 points shy of 1,000 for his career, with a 10.1 career average. He consistently gives the Gamecocks roughly seven rebounds a game. He is a defensive stopper who makes steals and blocks shots.

So what is a versatile 6-foot-7 forward like that worth?

"I don't think I'm overstating it to say that I can't place a value to how important he is to our team," said Darrin Horn, the second-year coach of the Gamecocks. "He's not demonstrative in his actions or vocally. He's kind of steady and his numbers aren't gaudy. But if you asked every coach in our league to list the top three guys in terms of versatility, I think Dominique Archie would be on almost every ballot. He's a guy that does so many things for our team in literally every area."

It is that diversity of athleticism that made Horn so pleased that Archie decided to return for his senior season after withdrawing his name from NBA Draft eligibility last June. He's the kind of necessary ingredient the Gamecocks need if they hope to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.

"It doesn't matter if you've got a guy to replace someone from a talent standpoint, you don't replace a fifth-year senior like Dominique Archie," Horn said. "In terms of him coming back, that's the thing that stands out in terms of importance. ... There's a maturity and a toughness that comes with that that you're just not going to get no matter how talented a younger player is."

Horn doesn't have to dig too deep in the archives to illustrate Archie's toughness. Last week in practice, Archie took an elbow to the forehead that left him sprawled on the baseline with blood gushing from a gash. Yet the senior simply went to the training room, got three stitches to close the wound and was back on the floor practicing within 10 minutes.

"That's just the kind of package you don't get in a lot of guys," Horn said. "He's just a great kid and we're fortunate to have him."

To Archie, there was no consideration for taking the rest of the day off.

"Every moment is a chance to get better and sitting on the sidelines I'm not getting better," he said.

That Archie chose to measure himself with other draft-eligible players last spring wasn't really an indication that he felt he was ready to leave college and turn pro.

It was just another chance to get better even though he knew all along he would play again this season in Columbia.

"I just really wanted to know where I stood with the elite players in the country," Archie said. "I think I did fairly well but I thought it would be better for me to come back for my senior year."

Aside from the experience of going through the NBA Draft workouts and knowing what to expect next year, Horn believes Archie brought back some renewed confidence that will buoy him his final season for the Gamecocks.

"He saw that he can play and there is some interest in him," Horn said. "Our focus has been on going out and playing at his highest level to do the things he does great every night and let the other stuff come. When he is defending and attacking aggressively offensively with his athleticism, a lot of the other things that people question just happen."

One thing nobody questions about Archie is his defensive prowess. He has few peers in that department, which is why he was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Defensive team last year and was named a preseason All-SEC second team member this season.

"I think he's as good as there is in the country," Horn said of Archie's defensive instincts. "When you take all things into account -- can he guard the dribble; can he make plays and steal the basketball or block shots; how is he as a team defender? -- he excels in all three of those things. His versatility allows him to at times guard every position on the floor. There aren't a ton of guys like that in the country."

It's that athleticism, toughness and defensive versatility that Horn believes gives Archie his best chance of making it into the NBA. But Archie doesn't want to be pinned down as a defensive specialist.

"I look at my defense as kind of like a crutch," Archie said. "I know teams focus on the things I can do on defense. But I also have offensive talent and can pretty much do everything. I think I have a chance to do more. I'm not going to force anything. I'm just going to play my role and hopefully the numbers will get better."

With Archie and Devan Downey -- the Gamecocks' leading scorer, who also withdrew himself from last year's NBA Draft pool to come back -- South Carolina seems poised to build on the momentum of last season's 21 wins and NIT appearance and make the NCAA postseason show. It's the one thing missing from the résumés of the five seniors on the roster.

"I think we're capable of winning this year," Archie said of the NCAA goal. "We just have to focus on doing what we're capable of doing and I don't think anybody in the country can beat us if we play like that. I think (last season) was a pretty good start to a new winning tradition at the school."

Horn hopes that as well, starting with tonight's season opener against Alabama A&M.

"I think we laid a good foundation last year," Horn said. "What we want to do is build a program but in the process we want to win now. It think it's definitely within our reach to be in the NCAA Tournament, but our first focus is continuing to build our program and lay the foundation that we need. If we do that it gives us our best chance this year as well."

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.