USC Men's Basketball

South Carolina men’s basketball transforms with flurry of roster moves

Stories by The State journalists, with AI summarization

South Carolina men’s basketball has reshaped its roster with a wave of transfers and newcomers, blending domestic talent with intriguing international connections.

The Gamecocks picked up well-traveled standouts like Utah guard Mike Sharavjamts from Mongolia and Providence center Christ Essandoko from France, adding size and versatility. Other newcomers, such as Austria’s Nordin Kapic and Boston College transfer Elijah Strong, bring both experience and a global element.

Freshmen like social media star Eli Ellis and sharp-shooter Grant Polk join the mix, while returning faces like Cam Scott and Myles Stute offer some continuity. Through these moves, coach Lamont Paris is building a team with diverse backgrounds and skill sets for the coming season, and hoping the Gamecocks can bounce back from a disappointing year.

EJ Walker committed to South Carolina on May 24, 2024.

NO. 1: FOUR-STAR CLASS OF 2025 POWER FORWARD COMMITS TO SOUTH CAROLINA MEN’S BASKETBALL

He chose the Gamecocks over Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin. | Published May 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Payton Titus

NO. 2: SCOUTING GRANT POLK: WHAT SOUTH CAROLINA MBB’S NEWEST COMMITMENT BRINGS TO GAMECOCKS

His head coach remembers the moment he first texted Lamont Paris “saying that I might have an SEC kid on my hands.” | Published October 17, 2024 | Read Full Story by Trevyn Gray

Eli Ellis of the YNG Dreamerz By Johhnie Izquierdo

NO. 3: USC BASKETBALL SIGNEE ELI ELLIS IS A WALKING SOCIAL MEDIA STAR. CAN IT BENEFIT GAMECOCKS?

Ellis boasts a staggering 1.2 million TikTok followers and another 643,000 on Instagram. | Published February 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Trevyn Gray

Hayden Assemian (20) of the YNG Dreamerz By Mike Lawrence/Overtime

NO. 4: WHY SOUTH CAROLINA MBB SIGNEE HAYDEN ASSEMIAN LEFT HOME TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE BALL

He won a championship in the Palmetto State before transferring to the Overtime Elite League. | Published February 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Trevyn Gray

South Carolina Guard Myles Stute (10) plays East Carolina at Colonial Life Arena on Saturday, December 7, 2024. By Joshua Boucher

NO. 5: NCAA HAS GOOD NEWS FOR MYLES STUTE AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA BASKETBALL TEAM

The former Vanderbilt transfer started 14 games this season for Lamont Paris and the Gamecocks. | Published May 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lou Bezjak

Providence Friars forward Christ Essandoko (2) shoots during the first half against the Green Bay Phoenix at Amica Mutual Pavilion. By Eric Canha

NO. 6: 7-FOOTER FROM PROVIDENCE IS SOUTH CAROLINA MBB’S FIRST TRANSFER COMMITMENT THIS CYCLE

The Gamecocks will be his third college stop. | Published March 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lou Bezjak

South Florida Bulls guard Kobe Knox (4) drives to the basket past Memphis Tigers guard PJ Carter (7) in the second half at Yuengling Center. By Nathan Ray Seebeck

NO. 7: SOUTH CAROLINA, LAMONT PARIS LAND TRANSFER COMMITMENT WITH AN NBA CONNECTION

This makes four transfer additions for the Gamecocks. | Published April 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lou Bezjak

Meechie Johnson (5) of South Carolina during the Gamecocks’ practice at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia on Thursday, October 5, 2023. By Sam Wolfe

NO. 8: MEECHIE JOHNSON DETAILS WHAT LED HIM BACK TO SOUTH CAROLINA

Once a fan favorite with the Gamecocks, he left USC. Now he’ll transfer back. | Published April 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan Kaye

Boston College Eagles forward Elijah Strong (31) shoots over Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward Duncan Powell (31) in the first half at McCamish Pavilion. By Brett Davis

NO. 9: BOSTON COLLEGE TRANSFER WITH NC TIES COMMITS TO LAMONT PARIS’ GAMECOCKS

The forward will have two years of eligibility left. | Published April 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lou Bezjak

Utah Utes guard Mike Sharavjamts warms up before the game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Marriott Center. By Rob Gray

NO. 10: SOUTH CAROLINA BASKETBALL ADDS WELL-TRAVELED, VERSATILE TRANSFER TO ROSTER

USC will be the fourth college for the guard from Mongolia. | Published April 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lou Bezjak

South Carolina’s Jordan Butler on Saturday in the Gamecocks’ game against Texas at Colonial Life Arena. By Dwayne McLemore

NO. 11: SOUTH CAROLINA’S ROSTER TURNOVER IS ‘CRAZY.’ SO WHY IS JORDAN BUTLER STAYING?

The 7-foot center could be the lone returner on the roster next year. | Published April 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Sauls

UC San Diego Tritons forward Nordin Kapic (24) reacts after making a three-point basket during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Ball Arena. By Isaiah J. Downing

NO. 12: TRANSFER WITH AUSTRIAN ROOTS COMMITS TO SOUTH CAROLINA BASKETBALL

The former Division II standout is the sixth transfer addition for USC in the last two months. | Published April 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lou Bezjak

Eli Ellis, left, of the YNG Dreamerz and Abu Yarmah of the YNG Dreamerz high five during an OTE League game on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at OTE Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. By Mike Lawrence/Overtime

NO. 13: ANOTHER NEWCOMER: ELI ELLIS’ TEAMMATE COMMITS TO USC GAMECOCKS, LAMONT PARIS

Between high school and portal recruits, South Carolina now has 11 new players on its 2025-26 roster. | Published April 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lou Bezjak

South Carolina’s Cam Scott plays Wooster at Colonial Life Arena on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. By Joshua Boucher

NO. 14: HE’S BACK: TOP FRESHMAN CAM SCOTT RETURNING TO GAMECOCKS AFTER PORTAL STINT

The Lexington native is giving it another try with Lamont Paris and USC. | Published April 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lou Bezjak

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.