Big man from Spanish pro league will join Lamont Paris, Gamecocks
South Carolina men’s basketball team is adding another member to its roster for the upcoming season.
Argentina’s Juan Fernandez is headed to play for Lamont Paris and the Gamecock basketball program, Draft Express reporter Jonathan Givonny reported on Monday.
Fernandez is the seventh addition who’s join the Gamecocks with college or pro experience, and there might one more foreign addition on the way when the player’s season gets finished.
Paris teased more foreign additions to the roster back in May.
“There are some international guys, even those that are still competing,” Paris said. “Those can’t be announced until after they’re done competing.”
At 6-foot-11 and 23 years old, Fernandez brings some size to the roster and experience. He has played the last two seasons for Bàsquet Girona of the Spanish Liga ACB pro league.
He’ll have two years of college eligibility when he gets to USC. Other Power Four programs, including North Carolina, were reportedly interested in him.
Fernandez played for Argentina in World Cup events and was named to the AmeriCup All-Tournament Team in 2025.
The Gamecocks are coming off a 13-19 season, and their roster is going through a massive overhaul. Twelve players departed because of graduation or transfers.
South Carolina has added six others from the transfer portal: Davion Hannah (Alabama)l, Jakub Necas (Duquesne), Shane Blakeney (Drexel), forward Aleksas Bieliauskas (Wisconsin), Camden Heide (Texas) and Kory Mincy (George Mason).
South Carolina men’s basketball 2026-27 roster outlook
Out of eligibility
• Meechie Johnson, G
• Nordin Kapic, F
• Kobe Knox, G
• Mike Sharavjamts, G
• Myles Stute, G
In the transfer portal
• Jordan Butler, F (Furman)
• Eli Ellis, G (College of Charleston)
• Christ Essandoko, F (Bowling Green)
• Cam Scott, G (Temple)
• Elijah Strong, F (St. Louis)
• EJ Walker, F (Western Kentucky)
• Abu Yarmah, G (Longwood)
On the roster
• Hayden Assemian, F
• Grant Polk, G
• Eli Sparkman, G
High School signee
• Marcus Johnson, G
Transfer portal additions
• Camden Heide, F, Texas
• Kory Mincy, G, George Mason
• Aleksas Bieliauskas, C, Wisconsin
• Shane Blakeney, G, Drexel
• Jakub Necas, F/C, Duquesne
• Davion Hannah, G, Alabama
• Juan Fernandez, F/C, Spanish Pro League
This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 1:07 PM.
