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South Carolina interested in in-state transfer portal sharpshooter

by:Kevin Miller•03/30/25•

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South Carolina basketball transfer portal target Justin Bailey warming up as a member of the Wofford Terriers last season. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
South Carolina basketball transfer portal target Justin Bailey warming up as a member of the Wofford Terriers last season. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

This weekend, South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris has secured commitments from two big-time prospects out of the transfer portal. 4-star center Christ Essandoko was first, pledging his services to the Gamecocks on Saturday. Then, on Sunday, news broke that 4-star wing Treysen Eaglestaff was joining USC’s portal class, as well.

South Carolina is expected to continue being active in the portal. One of the players to come on the team’s radar recently is sharpshooting guard Justin Bailey, per The Portal Report. The former USC-Upstate Spartan and Wofford Terrier had a strong junior season and entered his name into the transfer portal this week. The Gamecocks aren’t the only team that has reached out, though, as the rival Clemson Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs have, as well.

South Carolina basketball transfer portal resources:

A Palmetto State native, Bailey was a former Big South All-Freshman team member from his days at USC-Upstate. He also would have led the Southern Conference in 3-point shooting percentage this year had he qualified with more attempts.

This season at Wofford, Bailey averaged 9.6 points per game. He did so while shooting 45.6% from behind the 3-point line on 125 attempts. The 6-3 shooting guard also chipped in with 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Bailey is efficient at the rim, too, making about 57% of his shots near the cup despite not possessing elite size or athleticism.

South Carolina struggled to shoot the basketball this season, averaging fewer than seven 3-pointers made per contest on 31.6% efficiency. That is why Bailey is among a large group of above-average shooters that Paris has checked in on this offseason. He will have one more year of eligibility.

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