Myles Stute ready for new role, opportunity at South Carolina

Myles Stute always thought he played his best basketball when he was reading and reacting to a defense. With South Carolina looking for a wing to play in its more free-flowing offensive style it was an easy decision for Stute. 

He picked the Gamecocks, a chance to get back to his natural position. And to get back to his natural self to play and showcase what he can do on the floor. 

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“(South Carolina) really did their research on me and who I am as a player, as a person, my goals and aspirations I have down the road for my career. In saying that, all BS aside, they told me they want me to come in and be myself. They understand the type of player I am and the type of box I had to fit into at Vanderbilt,” Stute told GamecockCentral.

“They want to bring me out of that box and be my natural self…I think that role they gave me the opportunity to come in and take is definitely what I had my mind set on when I entered the transfer portal. I think it’s definitely a great fit on both sides.”

Stute has nothing but respect for Vanderbilt, the place he spent the first three years of his college career. Me mentioned it was a blessing to learn from a player like Jerry Stackhouse. 

But after his junior season, Stute wanted to find a place where he could be on the wing a little bit more than what he was doing with the Commodores.

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That’s where the Gamecocks come in, a program looking for a veteran wing with SEC experience. Stute visited South Carolina and committed publicly just a few days after. 

Now he’ll try and fit into a system Lamont Paris touts as one to help build players’ confidence levels offensively. 

“It’s much more free-flowing than what I’ve been accustomed to over the past three years. But that’s exciting. That’s when I feel like I play my best basketball, reading and reacting. It’s free-flowing and not too much structure,” Stute said. 

“Of course, we’re going to have some plays called when it’s time to get a bucket in a halfcourt set. But I’m really excited to have the comfortability out there and basketball freedom to be myself.” 

He’s coming off a very solid career at Vanderbilt where he started 59 games over three seasons. Most of those (56) came over the last two seasons. Known as one of the better three-point shooters in the country, Stute averaged 8.4 points and 4.6 rebounds last season. He shot 34.7 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from three. 

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Stute was off to a great start through the first 22 games of the year. He started the year averaging 10.1 points on 42.4 percent shooting from three and hauling in 5.4 boards per game. 

He was part of a Vanderbilt team that beat South Carolina twice last season. But in those games he liked what he saw from the Gamecocks offensively. 

“I definitely saw the talent was there in terms of the pieces that were retained this offseason. Guys like Meechie (Johnson), guys like Jacobi (Wright). And even the pieces we’ve added like BJ (Mack), Stephen (Clark) and Ta’Lon (Cooper) and all those guys,” he said. “I’m really excited for what we’re going to bring to the court this upcoming season. Having played South Carolina a couple of times, it was eye-opening to see that free-flowing style coach Paris allowed and encouraged his players to play with.” 

Stute is working this offseason on continuing to develop as a leader and continuing to refine some of the skills he’ll need playing at South Carolina. 

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“I’m fine-tuning a lot of things in terms of my ball handling. Especially making reads out of the pick and roll and making the right passes and the right plays in specific situations,” he said. “I’ve been watching a lot of film on that. IO’m also working on my defense. That’s something that I haven’t really proven to the point I want to the past few years.”

Stute hopes in his time with the Gamecocks he can help get this team back to the tournament.

“They’re getting a hard worker. I’m a high-energy, great-character guy. I’m going to be someone who’s a leader who comes in and puts my head down and works every single day,” he said. “And I’m just trying to get us better and get us to where we need to be, which is the NCAA Tournament. I’m really, really excited and looking forward to showing the fans who I really am on the court and my personality.” 

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