South Carolina Gamecocks
2025-26 record: 13-19 (4-14)
Roster departures
● Meechie Johnson (17.2 ppg and 4.3 apg)
● Mike Sharavjamts (10.9 ppg and 5.6 rpg)
● Kobe Knox (10.8 ppg and 3.6 rpg)
● Elijah Strong (10 ppg and 2.3 rpg)
● Eli Ellis (8.6 ppg and 2.8 rpg)
● Myles Stute (5.6 ppg and 3.7 rpg)
● Nordin Kapic (3.9 ppg and 2.0 rpg)
● Jordan Butler (2.8 ppg and 1.8 rpg)
● Christ Essandoko (2.0 ppg and 1.6 rpg)
Roster returnees
● Grant Polk (3.8 ppg and 1.1 rpg)
● Hayden Assemian (2.4 ppg and 2.5 rpg)
Roster additions
● Kory Mincy (14.3 ppg and 2.9 apg at George Mason)
● Shane Blakeney (14.2 ppg and 5.1 rpg at Drexel)
● Aleksas Bieliauskas (4.9 ppg and 4.4 rpg at Wisconsin)
● Camden Hiede (5.9 ppg and 2.7 rpg at Texas)
● Davion Hannah (3.3 ppg and 1.9 rpg at Alabama)
● Jakub Necas (6.9 ppg and 5.1 rpg at Duquesne)
● Marcus Johnson (4-star guard prospect)
Coach Lamont Paris said in media availability that the Gamecocks paid the most of any team during the players’ respective recruitments this offseason. But are they better than the team that finished in the bottom tier of the SEC last season?
Mincy and Blakeney are good guards from the mid-major ranks, but not proven at this level. Heide and Hannah are coming from other SEC teams and have the chance for larger roles, but both have to show they can grow as scorers. There’s some defensive hope with this roster, with the likes of Necas and Heide, and after playing second fiddle off the bench at Wisconsin, Bieliauskas could be a true breakout player in the frontcourt.
But even with those things going well, it’s just hard to see them making meaningful improvements as a team to become competitive again. And if that doesn’t happen, South Carolina could be looking for a new head coach.
Grade: D+
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