Change is coming for South Carolina MBB roster. How much shakeup will there be?
After a season that felt more like a freefall than a fight, South Carolina’s roster is about to get the college basketball version of a deep spring cleaning.
Some familiar faces are sticking around, others are packing their bags and you can bet Lamont Paris will be scanning the transfer portal like a shopper on Black Friday. The spring portal window for men’s basketball opens March 24.
With a 12-20 record and a firm grip on last place in the SEC, the Gamecocks have nowhere to go but up. But what will the roster actually look like for next year?
Who’s out the door?
It’s now the biggest question every offseason: Who’s leaving?
South Carolina bids farewell to its senior class, including Jacobi Wright, Jamarii Thomas and Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk. Three veterans are exiting stage left.
Who’s running it back?
Despite the portal madness of modern college hoops, the Gamecocks will retain a solid foundation of young talent. Rising sophomores Cam Scott and Arden Conyers, along with rising junior Jordan Butler, have all confirmed their intent to return for the 2025-26 season.
Conyers and Butler found their groove late this season, so expect them to have an even bigger role next year. Scott barely saw the floor this year, but let’s not forget — he was a four-star recruit for a reason. With more minutes and a bigger role, he could be USC’s next breakout star.
The backcourt will also get a boost with the return of rising senior Zach Davis, who steps into the role of longest-tenured Gamecock following Wright’s departure.
Meanwhile, Finnish duo Morris Ugusuk and Okku Federiko are expected to be back, though they haven’t officially confirmed. Ugusuk, in particular, could take a major step forward in 2025-26.
New faces, portal needs
Coach Paris has his work cut out for him on the recruiting trail, but help is on the way. Incoming freshmen Eli Ellis, Hayden Assemian, Grant Polk and EJ Walker will be looking to make their mark.
That said, Paris will almost certainly be active in the transfer portal. Grabbing an experienced scorer and a facilitating guard — think a Ta’Lon Cooper or Jamarii Thomas type — should be at the top of his wish list. South Carolina struggled mightily with consistency on offense this season, and adding a veteran playmaker or two is critical.
The big unknowns
The elephant in the room: Collin Murray-Boyles.
The projected first-round NBA Draft pick hasn’t made it official yet, but it’s probably only a matter of days before he declares. If he shocks the world and returns, it’s a game-changer for South Carolina’s prospects next year. But all signs point to him heading for the big leagues.
Then, there’s Nick Pringle and Myles Stute. Pringle has a final year of eligibility left and told The State he’d like to return — under the right conditions. His decision could be huge for the team’s front-court depth.
Stute, on the other hand, spent most of conference play sidelined with a blood clot and has filed for an extra year of eligibility. If granted, he’d bring some much-needed veteran experience and shooting to a team that desperately needs it.
With offseason shakeups on the horizon, South Carolina is bracing for a much-needed reset. If Paris can work some portal magic and keep his core intact, the Gamecocks could take a step forward next season. But if the departures pile up, it could be another long year in Columbia.
Either way, change is coming. And after a season like this one, that might not be such a bad thing.
This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 9:12 AM.
