Normalcy Returning, Panthers Open Summer Practice

ATLANTA-Following a year in which just getting on the court to practice or play a game was considered a victory, the Georgia State men's basketball team held its first full-team practice of the 2021-22 season on Monday. The smiles and sense of normalcy in itself would be considered a victory for most but as head coach Rob Lanier looks ahead to a new season, he knows what he has in a talented group of returning seniors, as well as a highly touted group of newcomers, it will be much more than fun and games this year.

Although last season included a 16-6 record and a third-straight appearance in the Sun Belt Conference Championship game, the year was anything but normal as the COVID-19 pandemic shook the nation. When Lanier was finally able to get the guys in the gym last summer, it was less about teaching the 'x's and o's' as much as it was making sure the guys were well off both physically and mentally. It was about two hours of not thinking about a virus that might not allow the season to even happen.

Fast-forward a year and the smiles and joy of summer practice was like most wouldn't expect during early June in the GSU Practice Gym. But for seniors Kane Williams and Corey Allen, or for freshmen Jamall Clyce and Danny Stubbs, it was really the first time in 15 months being able to practice with a sense of normalcy. And for the 90 minutes or so the team was on the court, it was the up-tempo, high-energy pace that Lanier wants to play at. It was also seniors teaching freshmen, and freshmen pushing seniors as the group of 17 players have already bonded with a common goal in mind.

"Well, I'm happy for them, you know it is good for us," said Lanier. "I thought it was a straining, tough offseason for those guys with all of the uncertainty (last year). Everything that came with not being able to do the things you are used to doing. I really felt for the guys and just now, just this morning, you can see the energy and I think that is a by-product of being excited to be able to be in the gym and do what they love."

So, although there are still eight more weeks of summer practice, a long way before opening night in November and an even longer time before we reach the fun of March Madness, ever new year starts with a beginning, which just so happened to be June 14 this year. This years' chapter starts with a lot more normalcy that the last, and normalcy is just fine for this group of Panthers.

This also begins the final year of the GSU Sports Arena for the men's and women's basketball teams before the opening of the new GSU Convocation Center in August 2022, but we will talk more about that next time.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Corey Allen: G; 6' 2"; Senior

#12 Kane Williams: G; 6' 4"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#11 Corey Allen
: 6' 2"; Senior
: G

#12 Kane Williams
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

Players Mentioned

#11 Corey Allen

#12 Kane Williams

Players Mentioned

#11 Corey Allen

#12 Kane Williams