South Carolina Basketball: Impact of losing Ebrima Dibba for 2022-23 season

Ebrima Dibba was set to be a solid player for South Carolina Basketball next season. With him now out, how do the Gamecocks move forward?

After South Carolina Basketball parted ways with head coach Frank Martin, the team hired Lamont Paris from Chattanooga and started the rebuilding process. Of course, the Gamecocks got national attention a couple of weeks ago, landing five-star forward prospect GG Jackson, who reclassified to play this upcoming season.

Jackson is one of seven newcomers to the roster, three freshmen and four transfers (2 each in frontcourt and backcourt). One of the veteran guards is Ebrima Dibba, a four-year transfer from Coastal Carolina that started 86 of 90 games and played over 32 mpg. The 6’6 guard had career averages of 8.2 ppg and 5.2 apg, averaging over 4.7 apg in every year.

Dibba played the “combo guard” role each year with the Chanticleers and while he’s not much of an offensive threat, his passing ability to guard multiple positions would’ve made him a solid rotational piece for South Carolina. Unfortunately, the team will have to wait a year to see that.

It’s a big blow for the Gamecocks, as he was the veteran of the team. That leaves a group of five guards that’ll likely have to play three positions on the perimeter. One of them is Ohio State transfer Meechie Johnson Jr., a former top-100 prospect that showed promise in two seasons but also dealt with injuries. He’s also a combo guard but with Dibba now out, will likely be the exclusive point guard for the Gamecocks.

The two returning guards on the roster are Chico Carter and Jacobi Wright, a pair of rotational guards that produced 4.2 and 3.4 ppg respectively. Both were already set to have larger roles this upcoming season and now with Dibba on the sidelines, could easily start together. And there’s 6’7 freshman Zachary Davis, who’ll get minutes on the wings.

With Jackson on board, South Carolina Basketball has a go-to guy to work with offensively and take some pressure off the guards. But with Ebrima Dibba now out, the pressure is now back on the remaining guards to produce to keep the team competitive in the SEC.