South Carolina basketball: Josh Gray signing solidifies Gamecocks’ roster

South Carolina basketball snags a big from SEC foe LSU.

The South Carolina basketball roster seemed set in stone last month, as the Gamecocks’ coaching staff was able to add four players from the transfer portal over the offseason to fill its open scholarship spots. Frank Martin had seen a number of contributors leave the program following a disappointing 2020-21 season, but was able to bring in proven playmakers to restock the lineup.

It didn’t appear that the Gamecocks would see any more movement heading into the Summer, but South Carolina big Alanzo Frink announced a surprise transfer last month, leaving the team one man short.

Coach Martin and Co. worked quickly to make up for the departure, stating yesterday that the team had signed LSU transfer Josh Gray. The center will be immediately eligible and will have four years left to play.

https://twitter.com/GamecockMBB/status/1410623050693984277

Gray stands at 6-foot-11, making him one of the tallest players on the team. He, Wildens Leveque, and Tre-Vaughn Minott should share opportunities down low in the frontcourt rotation. Gray averaged 3.3 minutes per game last year as a freshman for the Tigers, contributing 0.8 points a contest on 50% shooting. He also added 1.2 boards over his 10 appearances.

Out of high school, the big man was considered a top 250 prospect, and the third-best player in the state of New York. He was recruited heavily by the Gamecocks and coach Martin, but ultimately spurned South Carolina for the bayou. Now, he gets a second chance to play in Columbia, and he’s jumping on the opportunity.

How does Gray fit in?

Gray will solidify the roster, filling the final scholarship opening. He helps replace Frink’s departure, and should see plenty of action in South Carolina’s lineup in the upcoming season. He gives added depth to a frontcourt that now consists of him, Wildens Leveque, Tre-Vaugh Minott, AJ Wilson (transfer), and Ja’von Benson.

He’ll also give the Gamecocks another defensive force down low, adding length to a roster that has only two other players above 6-foot-9. That length should allow the team to be tougher on defense, and gives the coaching staff an opportunity to play big after having to start a mix of guards and small forwards for the majority of last season.

Gray provides the roster with SEC experience, too, an area the Gamecocks are lacking on the inside. Of the team’s three returning bigs, only Leveque has seen action in more than 10 games. While Leveque has been a mainstay in the lineup over the last two seasons, Minott and Benson have combined to play just 11 career contests. Though just a second-year player, Gray will add experience at the SEC level, on a team that made the NCAA Tournament last season.