South Carolina basketball: Jermaine Couisnard declares for draft

A 2nd South Carolina basketball players has declared for the NBA Draft.

Over the last week of the South Carolina basketball team’s offseason, a total of four players have opted to either enter the transfer portal or declare for the NBA Draft. Those four, TJ Moss (transfer), Trae Hannibal (transfer), Jalyn McCreary (transfer), and Keyshawn Bryant (draft) could have the Gamecocks’ roster looking much different than the one we saw this past winter.

Now, a fifth name can be added to that list, as redshirt sophomore guard Jermaine Couisnard has also decided to declare for the NBA Draft. He made his decision public through a post on Instagram early Thursday evening. Like Bryant, Couisnard will not hire an agent, leaving him the option to return to Columbia if he doesn’t receive the feedback he’s looking for from professional scouts.

The third-year guard experienced a bit of a dip in production this past season, after posting a stellar freshman year that saw him garner all-conference honors. Still, the point man averaged over 10 points a contest, good enough to make him the team’s third leading scorer. Couisnard also led the team in assists and finished second in made three-point attempts.

Should all of these players ultimately leave the program, it could spell trouble for Frank Martin in what will be his 10th season. A team already thin at the post position has lost one of its better scoring options down low in McCreary. The Gamecocks will likely lose at least three guards, too, with the announcements from Hannibal and Moss, and the graduation of transfer Seventh Woods. Leading scorer AJ Lawson has yet to make his announcement for the future, but he could also opt to make a jump to the next level.

Should things continue to trend this way, a rebuild could be in store for the Gamecocks’ in the not-so-distant future.