South Carolina Basketball: Top transfer portal target visiting this weekend

As South Carolina football’s recruiting has been on fire of late, so too has South Carolina basketball’s transfer portal recruiting. Lamont Paris and his staff have assembled a top-5 portal class to date. The Gamecocks have added three transfers to the roster, and all of them should make immediate impacts on the program.

Guard Ta’Lon Cooper (Minnesota) will compete for the starting point guard role, and should he win it, he will allow shot-maker Meechie Johnson to slide off the ball. Forward Stephen Clark (The Citadel) provides some offense and length down low to complement defensive big man Josh Gray. Myles Stute (Vanderbilt) is a combo forward who provides some outside shooting and the ability to play the 3 or 4.

BJ Mack (Wofford) is one of the top targets remaining in the transfer portal, and South Carolina basketball is in the hunt. Mack is a thick-bodied, 6’8,” 250-pound forward who can score both inside and outside. He recently announced a final list of South Carolina, Alabama, LSU, Arkansas, and Iowa. He has one more year of eligibility remaining.

If Mack were to pick Carolina, the Gamecocks likely would not add another forward with their final remaining scholarship unless it was a young, developmental player. The biggest need remaining on the roster would be for a “3-and-D” wing who can play full-time on the perimeter, but players like that are in high demand and short supply.

With numerous graduating seniors on next year’s roster in Ebrima Dibba, Josh Gray (pending decision on Covid redshirt), Stephen Clark, Ta’Lon Cooper, Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk, and Mack (if he commits), it seems likely that the Gamecocks would utilize all of their 2023-2024 scholarships as they should have plenty available for next year.

Mack is set to decide on May 4th.