South Carolina Gamecocks News: Recruiting news, baseball, NCAA Tournaments, more
By Kevin Miller
Here is the latest South Carolina Gamecocks News, starting with some updates from the world of football recruiting.
South Carolina football got a surprise visit from the #1 recruit in Virginia when Keylen Adams came to town. The 6’1” receiver is a consensus 4-star player. After his visit ended, Adams immediately put out a “final five” that included Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Ohio State, Alabama, and South Carolina. He also set a decision date for July 13th.
4-star running back Peyton Lewis (also from Virginia) officially announced the Gamecocks as a finalist for his services, as well. Carolina joins Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and Penn State in Lewis’ top-6.
4-star safety Kaj Sanders put South Carolina in his top-10. Sanders named South Carolina, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Maryland, Rutgers, Penn State, Michigan State, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Miami as his finalists.
The transfer portal was busy for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina native Jatius Geer committed to the Gamecocks. The high-upside defensive end has three more years of eligibility after starting at defensive end as a freshman for Syracuse last season.
Former starter at left tackle for the Charlotte 49ers Jaxon Hughes committed to South Carolina as a preferred walk-on. He provides needed depth at tackle after Jaylen Nichols’ knee injury.
Former 4-star Gamecock quarterback Braden Davis found a new home. He and Geer will be trading places as Davis will be transferring to Syracuse.
Graduate EDGE Rodricus “Hot Rod” Fitten has committed to East Tennessee State. He still has two years of eligibility remaining.
Freshman defensive tackle transfer Demetrius Watson will not be leaving the state after hitting the portal. He has committed to Coastal Carolina where he will have four more years to play.
A South Carolina basketball commitment will be on campus sooner than expected.
2024 combo guard Morris Ugusuk reclassified to the 2023 class and will be on campus this fall.
Columbia native and former Tennessee Volunteer Julian Phillips is in the transfer portal.
The former 5-star entered the portal over the weekend. It would be more difficult for him to transfer within the SEC due to the timing of his portal entrance, but Auburn still appears to be the early favorite to land the talented wing player.
South Carolina baseball lost again.
Carolina lost two of three at Arkansas this weekend. Arkansas is a very good team, but now that the Gamecocks have lost three series (and a mid-week game) in a row, every loss feels bigger. After a rematch against Charlotte on Tuesday, South Carolina will play the red-hot Tennessee Vols in a Thursday through Saturday series.
Speaking of baseball…
South Carolina baseball legend Grayson Greiner retired from Major League Baseball this week. The 9-year pro (5-year MLB veteran) began the year in AAA.
The South Carolina softball team went on a very nice run through the SEC Tournament and secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Carolina knocked off Texas A&M, Georgia, and Auburn before falling to Tennessee in the SEC Tournament final. They were selected as a three-seed in Florida State’s regional and will take on UCF in the first round.
South Carolina Track and Field did not perform well as a team in the SEC Outdoor Championships but did pick up a handful of medals along the way.
Gamecocks won two gold medals, a silver, and a bronze at the SEC Championships. Amass Essayi (men’s 1500-meter) and Silan Ayyildiz (women’s 1500-meter) swept the gold medals. Sylvia Chelangat (women’s 800-meter) brought home a silver medal, and Rogerio Amaral (men’s 10K) won bronze.
South Carolina tennis keeps on winning.
The men’s tennis team advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1989 and will take on Texas for a spot in the Final Four.