A 12-Player Overhaul After SEC Struggles
The South Carolina men’s basketball team enters the season with a dramatically altered roster featuring 12 different players, following a season in which the program went 13-19 overall and 4-14 in Southeastern Conference play.
Very little remains from a squad that dropped 10 conference games by double digits last season. Only three players returned for head coach Lamont Paris, leaving the Gamecocks picked to finish last in the SEC this season.
Lamont Paris Seeks Stability Behind a 62-68 Record
Paris led South Carolina to 26 wins during the 2023-24 season, but has struggled in his other three campaigns as head coach, bringing an overall record of 62-68 to Columbia. The program has accumulated a 6-30 record against conference opponents over the past two seasons, placing sharp focus on how this overhauled group performs.
Fresh Talent and High-Scoring Transfers Arrive in Columbia
To spark a turnaround, the Gamecocks added former top-50 recruit Davion Hannah. The Milwaukee native spent last season at Alabama, appearing in 10 games and averaging 3.3 points per contest, and the coaching staff hopes a change of scenery unlocks his potential.
The roster also gained several experienced transfers. Guards Kory Minor arrives from George Mason after averaging 14.3 points per game, while Shane Blakeney joins from Drexel, where he averaged 14.2 points. Frontcourt additions include Camden Heide from Texas, who shot 45.4% from beyond the arc, Jakub Necas from Duquesne, who averaged 6.9 points, and center Aleksas Bieliauskas from Wisconsin. Juan Fernandez, a 6-foot-11 forward from Argentina, is also expected to see action and has a chance to start.
Gamecocks Face Early Tests Without Meechie Johnson Jr.
These arrivals must fill the void left by Meechie Johnson Jr., the team’s leading scorer last season at 17.2 points per game. Johnson exhausted his college eligibility after scoring 1,395 combined points at South Carolina and Ohio State.
The nonconference schedule opens Tuesday against Stetson, marking the first of five home games against opponents the Gamecocks should beat. That stretch is followed by Thanksgiving week matchups in Palm Springs against USC and Arizona State, alongside games against Clemson and Maryland.
Handling the January SEC Gauntlet
Conference play begins January 2 at LSU. The schedule also features matchups against top-tier opponents, including a home game against No. 7 Texas on January 27, a road game against No. 1 Florida on February 2, and a rematch in Columbia on March 2.
