South Carolina Gamecocks News: Transfer portal, basketball, awards, baseball, football announcements, more
By Kevin Miller
Here is the South Carolina Gamecocks News from the week, starting with the Transfer Portal.
The South Carolina men’s basketball team saw three defections from their big man ranks this week. Tre-Vaughn Minnot, Ja’Von Benson, and Daniel Hankins-Sanford all put their names in the Transfer Portal. Hankins-Sanford was the only one of the three bigs who saw a significant role at any time this season. The three defections, plus Hayden Brown’s graduation, and GG Jackson’s likely NBA decision equate to five available scholarships for Lamont Paris’ team. Incoming freshmen will take up two of the slots, so the Gamecocks are likely not done in the Portal.
The women’s team got some more good news as they get ready for the NCAA Tournament.
Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, and Brea Beal were all named All-Americans by the Associated Press this week. Boston was a unanimous first-team selection, while Cooke made the third-team, and Beal was an honorable mention. Boston became just the tenth player to ever make three first-team AP All-American teams and was just the third to ever make four straight All-American squads (she was a second-teamer as a freshman).
The University of South Carolina announced Coach Beamer’s “Welcome Home Tour.”
There will be six stops on the tour. Charlotte, Summerville, Aiken, Columbia, Florence, and Greenville will host the Welcome Home Tour this May.
Priority Gamecock target knows his future college home.
One of the top offensive tackles in the nation, Josiah Thompson, has announced he is ready to commit. The Dillon, South Carolina native is considered a heavy lean to the Gamecocks.
Versatile playmaker Dakereon Joyner will change positions this season. But not really. But kind of, yes. But not really.
Joyner has played multiple spots for the Gamecocks in his career. This fall, he may see some time at running back in addition to the wildcat quarterback, wide receiver, and special teams roles he already plays. Coach Beamer says he is “still a receiver” but can be used in many ways.
South Carolina’s Pro Day was on Tuesday.
13 Gamecocks participated in the Pro Day activities. Four of the five NFL Combine participants (Cam Smith, Darius Rush, Zacch Pickens, and Jovaughn Gwyn) were only measured. Jalen Brooks, Josh Vann, and Nate Adkins helped their chances of getting drafted with their performances.
Two former Gamecocks have new homes in the NFL.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore and tight end Hayden Hurst will play in new cities this fall. Gilmore was traded to the Cowboys as America’s Team seeks to compete for a Super Bowl, and Hurst signed with the Carolina Panthers. The moves follow kicker Parker White’s January agreement with the Green Bay Packers and Taylor Stallworth agreeing to re-sign with the Houston Texans last week.
The baseball team just keeps dominating.
A 5-0 shutout of Presbyterian brought the Gamecocks’ record to 17-1, and the YardCocks retook the national home run lead. They are also third nationally in runs scored and hit by pitches, they are eighth in walks, and sixth in slugging percentage. On the pitching side of things, the Gamecocks are top-7 in WHIP, ERA, and K/BB ratio.
The transfer portal struck the baseball team this week.
Senior Kevin Madden has left the program. A primary starter last season who rotated between third base, first base, and designated hitter, Madden has not cracked the starting lineup this season.
The softball team had an up-and-down week.
Playing against 14th-ranked LSU was no walk in the park as the Gamecocks lost two of three against the Tigers (Game 1 was on Saturday, and Games 2 and 3 were on Monday). They bounced back with a victory over in-state Presbyterian on Wednesday. The Gamecocks are still a very impressive 23-4.