On 7 March 2016, Kotsar committed to play for the
South Carolina Gamecocks. 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. 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. 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. ==Professional career==