Maik Kotsar

Maik-Kalev Kotsar (born 22 December 1996) is an Estonian professional basketball player for Hamburg Towers of the Basketball Bundesliga. Kotsar played college basketball for South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He also has played for the Estonia men's national basketball team as well as the Estonia men's national 3x3 team. He is a 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) tall power forward and center.

Maik Kotsar
Kotsar in March 2020
No. 11 – Hamburg Towers
PositionPower forward / Center
LeagueBasketball Bundesliga
Personal information
Born (1996-12-22) 22 December 1996
Tallinn, Estonia
NationalityEstonian
Listed height2.11 m (6 ft 11 in)
Listed weight122.5 kg (270 lb)
Career information
High school
CollegeSouth Carolina (2016–2020)
NBA draft2020 / Undrafted
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2011–2015Audentes
2020–Hamburg Towers
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-SEC (2020)

College career

On 7 March 2016, Kotsar committed to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.[1] In his freshman year, Kotsar saw action in all 37 games with 33 starts, averaging 5.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game as South Carolina advanced to its first-ever Final Four, losing 73–77 to Gonzaga. Kotsar earned second-team All-SEC honors after averaging 11.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game during his senior season.[2] His entire senior year stat list at University of South Carolina is as follows:

-Started all 31 games, averaging 11.2 points, a team high 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and team highs of 1.1 blocks and 1.5 steals in 30.4 minutes per game; each of those marks a career high

-In SEC play, scored 12.3 points with 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.5 steals in 30.7 minutes per game

-20 double-figure scoring games, including three 20-point performances, 16 games with 7+ rebounds, 27 games playing 25+ minutes and 19 games with 30+ minutes played

-12 games with 3+ assists, 11 games with 2+ blocks, three double-doubles and five double-figure rebounding games

-Led or shared the team lead in scoring 10 times, in rebounding 16 times, in assists eight times, and in blocks and steals 13 times

-Scored his 1,000th career point in road matchup at Alabama

-Finished career ranked second all-time at Carolina with 121 starts

-Was the only player in the country 6-10 or taller in 2019-20 with 40 or more steals

-Was the only player in the SEC with 40+ steals and 30+ blocks in 2019-20

-Pulled down a season high 12 rebounds in home win over Cleveland State (Nov. 15)

-14-point outing vs. Boston University (Nov. 19) began a stretch of five-straight games scoring in double figures

-Named to the Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team after scoring 12 points vs. Wichita State (Nov. 26) and UNI (Nov. 27)

-11 points, seven rebounds and two assists in road win at Clemson (Dec. 15)

-Followed with three assists and three steals in upset road win at No. 9/7 Virginia (Dec. 22)

-First double-double of the season came in 18-point, 10-rebound outing vs. Florida (Jan. 7); connected on seven field goals vs. the Gators, was 4-of-4 at the free throw line, with two assists and two steals

-Scored 17 with eight rebounds and an assist, block and steal at Tennessee (Jan. 11)

-Pulled down 10 rebounds in road win at Texas A&M (Jan. 18) and dished a career high seven assists vs. the Aggies

-Scored 10 with nine rebounds and two steals in road win at Arkansas (Jan. 29)

-Matchup vs. the Razorbacks began a career best stretch of nine straight games scoring in double figures

-21 points and 11 rebounds in home victory over Missouri (Feb. 1), also four blocks vs. the Tigers

-Tallied 13 points, including 7-of-8 at the free throw line, along with eight rebounds in home win over Tennessee (Feb. 15)

-Career high 11 field goals, including seven straight to begin the game, for a season high 24 points along with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals at Mississippi State (Feb. 19)

-19 points and 10 rebounds in home OT win over Georgia (Feb. 26); scored five points in OT and drew the charge on the final play to secure the win

-Tallied 20 points behind nine field goals, along with four assists in Senior Night win over Mississippi State (March 3)[3]

By the end of his tenure at University of South Carolina, Maik Kotsar not only gained international attention but 30KG (over 60lbs) of muscle. The strength training coach for the gamecocks during his time was Scott Greenawalt.[4]

National team career

Kotsar made his debut for the Estonian national team on 29 June 2018, in a 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifier against Great Britain, scoring 8 points in a 65–74 away defeat.[5]

FIBA 3X3

Kotsar's 3x3 career started in the U18 division in 2013 with the Sprite Streetball 2013 Tallinn tournament where he advanced to the U18 Estonia Finals and eventually the 2013 FIBA 3x3 World Championships on September 26 2013.[6] Kotsar continued to compete 3x3 through 2014 and 2015. His FIBA 3x3 career returned from hiatus in 2018 Ghetto Basket Pro Camp in Riga on May 10th of that year. His team would advance all the way to the FIBA 3x3 World Cup tournament. Kotsar's Estonia Mens 3x3 team would be defeated by the Poland national 3x3 team who would themselves go on to win 3rd place in the entire tournament after being eliminated in the semifinals. The Estonian 3x3 Men's Team's run came to an end at the preliminary stage pools at 3rd place of the 2018 FIBA 3x3 World Cup – Men's tournament and they took home 9th place. [7]

Education

Maik Kotsar attended the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business. He majored in Finance and minored in Management. By the time of his graduation he had been named to the President's List, was on the Athletics Director's Honor Roll and had been named to the SEC Honor Roll all four years, and was named to the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) Honors Court.[8]Possibly his most notable academic achievement came his senior year when he was named University of South Carolina's Male Scholar Athlete of the Year. This award is given each year to one graduating senior with exceptional and outstanding academic achievement.[9]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016–17 South Carolina 373323.9.490–.3964.8.7.7.45.8
2017–18 South Carolina 333326.5.426.222.5664.81.4.9.58.0
2018–19 South Carolina 302423.4.438.500.4434.7.91.0.96.7
2019–20 South Carolina 313130.5.497.000.6906.32.31.51.111.2
Career 13112126.0.464.265.5415.11.31.0.77.8
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References
  1. "Estonian forward Maik-Kalev Kotsar commits to South Carolina basketball". The State. 7 March 2016.
  2. "Kotsar And Couisnard Earn Coaches Postseason Accolades". gamecocksonline.com. 10 March 2020.
  3. https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/maik-kotsar/6454
  4. https://sport.err.ee/1112162/euroopas-profikarjaari-alustav-kotsar-sai-usa-s-juurde-30-kilo-lihasmassi
  5. "Viimasel veerandil mängu käest andnud Eesti korvpallikoondis kaotas Suurbritanniale" (in Estonian). Delfi Sport. 29 June 2018.
  6. https://play.fiba3x3.com/players/4a9465f6-334a-490f-ba0e-0e6a9965b7b2/activity
  7. http://www.fiba.basketball/3x3WC/2018
  8. https://247sports.com/college/south-carolina/Article/NABC-Honors-Court-Maik-Kotsar-Jair-Bolden-South-Carolina-Gamecocks-basketball-149189657/
  9. https://247sports.com/college/south-carolina/Article/South-Carolina-Gamecocks-mens-basketball-senior-forward-Maik-Kotsar--146826184/
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