Lamont Paris lands first commitment of South Carolina tenure
Lamont Paris has landed his first commitment since taking over as the head coach at South Carolina.
Former Evansville guard Troy Boynton announced his pledge to USC on Saturday night. Boynton has four years of eligibility remaining and reportedly held offers from Florida Gulf Coast, Stetson, North Florida, Cornell and Evansville out of high school.
The Florida native did not appear in a game for the Purple Aces this year due to an undisclosed injury and entered the transfer portal in late December.
He will be a walk-on with the Gamecocks.
Boynton played high school at The Baylor School in Chattanooga and was recruited by Paris while there. Paris came to USC after five years as the head coach at Chattanooga, where he guided the Mocs to the 2022 NCAA tournament and a near-upset of Illinois in the first round.
Boynton and Paris reconnected in recent months. When Paris came to USC, he got back in touch with Boynton, who decided to come to Columbia without having visited the school.
“I committed without even seeing the campus,” Boynton said. “I’ve heard a lot of great things about it. I know the guys that Lamont hired, and I know a of great things about South Carolina. I will be coming up soon. ... I’ve built a great relationship with those guys, went up to Chattanooga a couple of times. That’s how our relationship got started.”
South Carolina hired Paris after firing Frank Martin following 10 years at the helm in Columbia. Since Martin’s dismissal March 14, six players from the 2021-22 roster entered the transfer portal.
The Gamecocks finished the 2021-2022 season 18-13 and 9-9 in Southeastern Conference play. South Carolina was not selected for a postseason tournament.
Boynton said he can bring an offensive game to USC, but he’s also a player with a defensive mindset.
“I’m a big playmaker,” Boynton said. “Biggest thing I am is a defender. I’ve always guarded the best guy on the court. I’m a 6-5 athletic guard, super athletic. I’m able to finish above the rim. I’m a combo guard, can play the point, two or three. I’m a team player and can do whatever they need me to do.”
Boynton said some of the other schools to contact him while he was in the portal were Colgate, Mercer, High Point and Loyola of Chicago.
Boynton won’t be going on scholarship immediately with the Gamecocks when he arrives this summer.
“I’m going to come in as a walk-on at the beginning,” Boynton said. “That’s what he did at Chattanooga. Guys transferring out of the portal, he wanted them to prove their spot. I like that he does that. It will probably be a matter of time until I do my part to show that I’m healthy and good. My wrist is feeling good and I’m pretty confident in myself.”
— Phil Kornblut contributed to this story.
Gamecocks roster departures
A list of South Carolina players who will be either transferring or declaring for NBA Draft Listed with new college where applicable.
NBA Draft
Keyshawn Bryant (April 7)
Transfers
Mike Green (March 28)
Devin Carter (March 28)
Wildens Leveque (March 27) — Massachusetts
Ta’Quan Woodley (March 26) — Massachusetts
Jermaine Couisnard (March 25)
Erik Stevenson (March 24) — West Virginia
This story was originally published April 16, 2022 at 8:08 PM.
