South Carolina Gamecocks News: Football, recruiting, baseball, women’s basketball, more

Here is the latest South Carolina Gamecocks News from Columbia, starting with football being back!

The South Carolina football spring game was on Saturday, and Gamecock fans were abuzz. A reported 51,000 fans made it to the intrasquad scrimmage (a little more than the announced number from that team in the Upstate). Before the game, true freshman LaNorris Sellers was the first pick of the “spring game draft,” generating tons of speculation about whether he or Luke Doty were viewed as QB2 inside the program. Ultimately, Doty was QB2 in the game, but indications are that Sellers is rising quickly.

The game was about as “spring game-y” as it could have been until the score was tied at the end of the fourth quarter. Thinking on the fly, Coach Beamer had the two teams square off in a 2-point conversion shootout. The Black team won the shootout in double overtime.

Unfortunately, a few Gamecocks were injured in the game. The most serious-looking of these injuries was left tackle Jaylen Nichols. His leg was put in a stabilizer, and he had to leave on crutches. No further update was given, and he will be checked out on Monday. KaJuan Banks left the game after looking a little wobbly after making a physical tackle but was called “fine” by Beamer after the game. Bam Martin-Scott and Bryan Thomas, Jr. both left the game with minor injuries but returned to play.

The week in recruiting was loaded.

The biggest news was that Josiah Thompson, a potential 5-star offensive tackle, elected to stay home and committed to the Gamecocks for the 2024 class. His commitment brought Carolina back into the top-5 in the On3 team recruiting rankings.

TONS of talent was on campus for the spring game. Over 50 total prospects were visiting, and the already-committed group was recruiting just as hard as the coaches. A few names of note who were on campus: #1 overall 2024 recruit Dylan Stewart (EDGE, 2024), 4-star KingJoseph Edwards (EDGE, 2024), 4-star Daniel Hill (ATH/RB, 2024), and 5-star Caleb Cunningham (WR, 2025). Edwards, in particular, had high praise for his visit.

Earlier in the week, some more big names were on unofficial visits. #1 overall prospect in the 2025 class David Sanders was among them. Several of his younger teammates joined him on the visit. Big-time transfer portal targets AJ Vongphachang (LB, Utah State) and Derrick McLendon (EDGE, Florida State) were also on campus.

4-star linebacker Zavier Hamilton named the Gamecocks a finalist for his services. The 2024 Florida native has the Gamecocks as finalists among a top-4 that also includes Auburn, Kansas, and Florida State.

Charlotte 4-star wide receiver Micah Gilbert trimmed his list to seven schools, and the Gamecocks made the cut.

4-star offensive tackle from Buford, Georgia Nick Brooks also trimmed his list. The Gamecocks made his top-10.

Transfer portal target Anthony “Tank” Booker chose Arkansas after naming the Gamecocks’ a finalist just a few days earlier.

A former Gamecock returned closer to his college home with his newest NFL contract.

Damiere Byrd, who played for Steve Spurrier from 2011-2014) has returned to the place where his NFL career started as he signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers. He joins fellow Gamecock receiver Shi Smith, defensive back Jaycee Horn, and tight end Hayden Hurst in the black and blue.

A suspended Gamecock has left the program.

One of three underclassmen suspended due to gun-related charges, Anthony Rose has entered his name into the transfer portal and will be leaving the University of South Carolina. His legal situation is still not resolved. No updates have surfaced about Cameron Upshaw or Monteque Rhames, their legal or academic statuses, or their plans.

South Carolina football had three players honored as scholar athletes.

The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame inducted Tyshawn Wannamaker, Tyreek Johnson, and Jovaugh Gwyn. Only graduating and rising seniors who have never had a GPA lower than 3.2 are eligible. Players must be nominated by their team’s coaching staff and have been a contributor on the field the previous season. Parker White, Nick Muse, and Spencer Eason-Riddle were Gamecock inductees in 2022.

The South Carolina Baseball team lost its first series of the year.

The Gamecocks fell two games to one against Vanderbilt. In a rough defensive series, the Gamecocks had 8 Es on their box scores, entirely too many to compete in the SEC. Those errors accounted for 10 runs over the entirety of the series.

Ethan Petry continued making his case for the Golden Spikes Award by swinging a scalding hot bat. He had three extra-base hits, including two home runs, and 4 RBI.

The women’s basketball team lost a coach and is set to hire a new one.

Fred Chmiel, a long-time assistant under Dawn Staley, took the head coaching job at Bowling Green last week. Now, Coach Staley is set to hire Winston Gandy, the top assistant from Duke. Two starting guards from Duke are in the transfer portal and have interest in South Carolina, as well.

Speaking of the women’s team…

They will play their first game of the year next season in Paris! Notre Dame and South Carolina will open their seasons overseas and become the first college basketball (regular season) game to ever be played in Paris.

Five Gamecocks were picked in the WNBA Draft.

Aliyah Boston was picked first overall by the Indiana Fever.

Laeticia Amihere went in the first round to the Atlanta Dream.

Zia Cooke also went in the first round to the LA Sparks.

Brea Beal was selected in the fourth round by the Minnesota Lynx.

Victaria Saxton went one pick after Beal and will join Boston with the Indiana Fever.

The Softball team had a big weekend.

The Lady Gamecocks picked up a huge sweep over ranked Texas A&M. They only gave up two runs the entire three-game series as they dominated the Aggies.