South Carolina Basketball: 5 biggest “musts” entering the offseason

South Carolina basketball head coach Lamont Paris Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
South Carolina basketball head coach Lamont Paris Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
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South Carolina Basketball
South Carolina basketball starters Meechie Johnson and Josh Gray will return next season. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

South Carolina Basketball Must Continue Developing

The Gamecocks were not a good team in the 2022-2023 season. That does not mean that the roster is void of talented players. The ongoing development of talent is an essential part of college athletics for every program, especially those that do not routinely bring in 5-star “one and done” players.

From the beginning of the season to the end, Josh Gray, Meechie Johnson, and Jacobi Wright showed growth and proved they could play a role on a competitive team. Young wing Zachary Davis displayed flashes of ability that has fans hopeful for his development.

Coach Paris and his staff must continue developing these players for next season to be a better one. Gray is a bonafide rebounder and post defender who would enter All-SEC territory if he gets something going offensively. Johnson and Wright have shown scoring and shooting chops but must become the engines through which the Gamecock offense runs. Davis’ length is intriguing as he profiles as a wing defender that was desperately missing from this year’s squad.