Mocs Basketball Players Excited to See Lamont Paris Land South Carolina Job

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV)

Mocs basketball was back together on campus Friday for one final celebration of their historic season. Chattanooga went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016. Of course it was a bittersweet since head coach Lamont Paris was not there. He has taken the job at South Carolina, and his now former UTC players are excited for him.

Said guard A.J. Caldwell: “I think he’s incredibly deserving. I think he’s one of the best coaches in America. He gave me an opportunity. He gave all of these guys an opportunity and he really built this program from the bottom up, and he deserves all the credit and the praises he’s been getting. And I think he’s going to do a great job at South Carolina.”

Said forward Silvio De Sousa: “Just like he gave me a better opportunity, he’s got an opportunity that he thinks might be better for him, and I’m just so happy for him.”

Said guard David Jean-Baptiste: “South Carolina, they got a great one. I hope they treasure it because he’s a great one, a hard one to come by, so I’m definitely proud of him, and i hope he does well in the SEC.”