On3 national writer identifies South Carolina's transfer portal needs

South Carolina basketball lost to Arkansas in the first round of the SEC Tournament earlier this week. Most expected the defeat to end the Gamecocks’ season. However, with a potential NIT invitation looming, there could be more USC action on the hardwood.

Still, most who follow the program have their eyes firmly on the offseason. First on many’s minds is the transfer portal. On Friday, On3’s Pete Nakos identified the biggest transfer portal needs for each team in the SEC. He didn’t hold back in his assessment of the Gamecocks.

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Said Nakos, “[Head coach] Lamont Paris will have to overhaul his roster entering his fourth season with the Gamecocks. South Carolina has four new high school players coming in this summer and will lose four or five players due to graduation. The Gamecocks finished 16th in the SEC and 12-20 overall. Forward Collin Murray-Boyles, who led South Carolina in scoring, will have to decide if he will enter his name into the 2025 NBA Draft.”

Nakos’ comments contrasted with his words for the other SEC programs. Instead of listing a specific position (or positions) as he did with the other teams in the conference, Nakos argued that South Carolina and Paris will have to “overhaul the roster” completely.

Coming off of a 12-20 record and a last-place finish in the SEC, that’s exactly what the Gamecocks must do.

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South Carolina is likely to lose its best player, sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles, to the NBA. Senior guards Jamarii Thomas and Jacobi Wright graduate. So does reserve post player Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk. Big man Nick Pringle says he’s interested in returning for a sixth season (he has one more year available to him thanks to the NCAA’s recent ruling on former junior college athletes). Wing Myles Stute is applying for a medical waiver to return for one more year, but his status is uncertain.

The rest of the roster could remain intact pending transfer portal conversations with Coach Paris. Incoming freshmen Eli Ellis, Hayden Assemian, Grant Polk, and EJ Walker are joining the program. With the new 15-scholarship limit coming for men’s basketball, that will leave South Carolina with several available roster spots.

Point guard will be one of the biggest emphases this offseason. This year, Jacobi Wright and Jamarii Thomas had to play somewhat out of position because there were no better options available. With both players gone, the issue could be even bigger next year without additional help. Ellis is a combo guard who can help at the position, but the Gamecocks should look to add a veteran point guard (preferably one who can defend) to help the cause.

USC also will need some reinforcements down low. With Murray-Boyles probably gone, Pringle’s status not 100% determined, and Bosmans-Verdonk graduating, the Gamecocks could be down three of its top four post players from the 2024-2025 campaign. Even with Murray-Boyles’ efforts, Carolina was 14th in the SEC in blocked shots and 13th in rebounding.

In a more general way, South Carolina needs to add shooting and defense, too. Those surely will be priorities for Paris in most (if not all) of his portal targets. Polk, Ellis, and Walker can shoot, and Assemian projects as a plus-defender, but adding experience would be a big help for a team likely to have just two returning seniors.

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For now, though, South Carolina awaits Selection Sunday to see whether or not they will be invited to the NIT. Then, Paris and company will have to decide if they will accept the invitation.

The transfer portal will open during this year’s NIT. Monday, March 24th is the first official day for underclassmen to enter into the transfer portal with schools being allowed to communicate with them. The portal will remain open for 30 days until April 22nd.

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