South Carolina basketball: projecting the starting lineup

South Carolina basketball has had a busy offseason, to say the least. The program has seen a mass exodus from the 2020 roster, losing players to both the transfer portal and professional ranks. In return, head coach Frank Martin filled the voids with incoming transfers and a three-man high school recruiting class.

The Gamecocks had a disappointing showing last year, but hopes of a quick turnaround are abound. South Carolina has added contributors with experience at the highest level of college basketball. The roster includes players with NCAA Tournament experience, and members from programs like LSU, Washington, Wichita State, George Mason, and Murray State.

The Gamecocks also got the good word that Keyshawn Bryant and Jermaine Couisnard would be returning for their third seasons in Columbia, meaning there is a ton of proven depth on the South Carolina sidelines.

With that being said, how do we think the starting lineup will look when the 2021 season begins? Here’s our best bet.

Predicting the depth chart for the ’21 season.

Point guard – Jermaine Couisnard / Chico Carter, Jr. / Jacobi Wright

Couisnard returns for his third year in Columbia, after making 30 starts in his first two seasons. The guard made 14 starts as a freshman after taking over the role at the start of SEC play. In that first start, Couisnard hit a game-winning three-pointer to take down the Kentucky Wildcats. He’d go on to earn all-conference honors. Couisnard has averaged double figures in both of his first two seasons, but is looking to improve after seeing a dip in production as a sophomore.

Carter comes to South Carolina following a two-year stint at Murray State. He’s appeared in 48 contests, including making starts in his final nine games. Over those nine starts, Carter averaged 16.9 points per game on 52% shooting. He adds another scoring option in the South Carolina backcourt.

Wright is entering his freshman season after being ranked as a top 150 player in the class of 2021. He’s earned the praise of his head coach, but may be stuck down the depth chart during year one.

Shooting guard – Erik Stevenson / Devin Carter

At shooting guard, South Carolina brings in one transfer and one recruit after losing leading scorer AJ Lawson to the NBA.

Erik Stevenson looks to be a major player from the transfer ranks, previously playing for both Wichita State and Washington. As a member of the Shockers, Stevenson started 32 games over his first two seasons. In his final year, the guard posted totals of 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per contest. He then transferred to Washington, where he averaged 9.3 points a game in 23 starts. Stevenson adds a proven scorer to the roster and a tough defensive mindset that will allow him to see the floor early and often.

Behind Stevenson is freshman Devin Carter, who comes in as one of the nation’s top 100 players in the class of 2021. Carter, the son of former NBAer Anthony Carter, is likely to see the floor a ton in year one following a fantastic prep career. The incoming rookie won player of the year honors in Miami as a high schooler, and arrives at South Carolina with a ton of fanfare and expectations.

While there are only two players listed at shooting guard, you’re likely to see Jermaine Couisnard enter this rotation, too, when playing off the ball.