South Carolina Gamecocks News: Football recruiting, transfer portal, Gamecocks in the NBA and WNBA
By Kevin Miller
Here is the latest South Carolina Gamecocks News from the last week, beginning with more recruiting news for the South Carolina football team.
After three commitments last week (5-star punter Mason Love, 3-star linebacker Fred Johnson, and one unannounced), the Gamecocks received two more pledges this week.
4-star running back Matthew Fuller was the first. The Georgia native announced his commitment publicly on Friday.
Shane Beamer then tweeted out his fifth recent #WelcomeHome during the official visit weekend and hinted to his online followers that the silent commitment was one of the players on campus for an official visit this weekend.
After his time on campus this weekend, 4-star running back Daniel Hill told Sportstalk’s Phil Kornblut that the Gamecocks sit at “number one” on his list. Alabama is the top competition for Carolina, and Tennessee is involved, as well.
The country’s top player according to On3, 5-star EDGE Dylan Stewart officially announced that South Carolina football is one of his five finalists along with Ohio State, Georgia, Maryland, and Miami.
4-star athlete Kam Mikell, as expected, named the Gamecocks a finalist. The future defensive back is believed to be deciding between South Carolina and Georgia, and the Bulldogs are seen as the favorite.
On a surprising note, 3-star running back D’Marius Rucker from Florida announced the Gamecocks as a finalist for his commitment.
5-star EDGE/linebacker Jamonta Waller and 4-star defensive tackle Nasir Johnson announced commitments to Florida.
3-star defensive linemen Quintavius Johnson and Nnamdi Ogboko made pledges to Georgia.
4-star safety Malcolm Ziglar released a decision date. He will decide on July 17th.
4-star receiver Keylen Adams will make his college choice public on July 13th.
A former Gamecock player got a new coaching gig.
Bryson Allen-Williams, who played linebacker and EDGE for the Gamecocks from 2014-2018, will now be coaching at the “other USC.” He will work off-the-field with defensive ends and outside linebackers for the Trojans.
The 2023 NBA Draft came and went, and GG Jackson was selected, but things did not go as well as he had hoped.
The once-guaranteed Lottery pick was taken midway through the second round by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 45th pick. He will be the youngest player in the NBA next season, but he also will be without a guaranteed contract. Jackson will likely begin his career in the NBA G League.
The WNBA All-Star Game starters were announced, and South Carolina basketball was well-represented.
A’ja Wilson, the league’s reigning MVP, was the leading vote-getter and will serve as the captain for one of the two teams in the July 15th exhibition.
Rookie Aliyah Boston was also selected as a starter for the game as she has had an excellent start to her professional career.
Allisha Gray was not chosen as an All-Star Game starter but is one player who potentially could be selected by the league’s head coaches as a reserve for the game.
The Carolina women’s basketball team got some good news on the recruiting front.
Carolina is in on several elite prospects in the upcoming recruiting cycle. One, Jaloni Cambridge, announced her final three schools, and South Carolina basketball made the cut.
Dawn Staley’s group will play in the Hall of Fame Women’s Basketball Showcase.
The Gamecocks will face off with Utah as part of a triple-header that also will include UConn vs. North Carolina and Florida State vs. UCLA. The matchups will take place on December 10th in Uncasville, Connecticut (home of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun).
The South Carolina men’s basketball team has scheduled its season opener for the 2023-2024 season.
On November 6th, the Gamecocks will take on USC-Upstate to tip off year 2 of the Lamont Paris era in Columbia.
A big-time local basketball prospect hinted at when he might make his college announcement.
5-star wing Cam Scott told On3’s Jamie Shaw that he intends to commit to his future school before his final high school season begins this fall. The Gamecocks are right in the thick of things for the Lexington High School product.
The South Carolina baseball team has remained active in the transfer portal.
Elite transfer portal target Kennedy Jones announced a commitment to the Gamecocks. Jones is primarily an outfielder but can play some corner infield, as well. He will be expected to start somewhere in 2024 and likely will hit toward the top of the batting order.
Clemson transfer (and All-American) Billy Amick is considering transferring to the South Carolina baseball program. He is also considering Florida. Several other schools are involved, but the Gamecocks and Gators appear to lead the way.
Alabama slugger Colby Shelton announced a commitment to Florida. He seemed to be deciding between the Gators and the Gamecocks.
The baseball squad also is going through some coaching transition.
Pitching coach Justin Parker has taken the same position at Mississippi State for a significant pay increase.
Matt Williams, previously at Liberty, will take over for Parker. Williams was a leading candidate when Parker was hired and is viewed as a rising star in the coaching industry. He is also a South Carolina native and an intense recruiter who will pair well with associate head coach Monte Lee (who turned down the Cincinnati head coaching job) to recruit the state of South Carolina.