South Carolina MBB losing 7-footer to transfer portal

South Carolina is losing its third player of the offseason to NCAA transfer portal.

Jordan Butler will be entering the portal when it opens, The State confirmed. The Field of 68 was the first to report Butler’s news.

The portal doesn’t officially open until April 7 and will remain open until April 21. Butler is the third player who will transfer from the Gamecocks, joining Elijah Strong and Eli Ellis.

The 7-foot Butler, who played in-state at Christ Church, transferred from Missouri to South Carolina before the 2024-25 season. This year, Butler played in 25 games (four starts) and averaged 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.

In two seasons with the Gamecocks, Butler appeared in 53 games and his best performance came against Presbyterian in which he scored 11 points.

The 7-foot, 237-pounder was a former four-star prospect. His mother, Casie, played basketball at South Carolina. Butler played for his father John at Christ Church and helped the Cavaliers to a pair of state championships in 2021 and 2023. As a senior in high school, he was Class A Player of Year and averaged 21.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.4 blocks and 1.2 assists.

South Carolina announced March 10 head coach Lamont Paris would return for a fifth season with the Gamecocks. Paris led USC to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024 but has since led the Gamecocks to two sub-.500 seasons and six SEC wins in two seasons.

USC 2025-26 roster, departures

Out of eligibility

Eli Sparkman, G

Kobe Knox, G

Meechie Johnson, G

Mike Sharavjamts, G

Myles Stute, G

Nordin Kapic, F

Remaining eligibility

Abu Yarmah, G

Cam Scott, G

Christ Essandoko, F

EJ Walker, F

Eli Ellis, G (entering portal)

Elijah Strong, F (entering portal)

Grant Polk, G

Hayden Assemian, F

Jordan Butler, F (entering portal)

This story was originally published March 23, 2026 at 1:25 PM.