South Carolina Gamecocks News: Football recruiting, Bahamas basketball, and more
By Kevin Miller
Here is the latest South Carolina Gamecocks News, starting with a football recruiting update.
The biggest recruiting news of the 2024 cycle dropped last week as 5-star EDGE prospect Dylan Stewart announced his commitment to the Gamecocks. He is the highest-rated recruiting win of the Shane Beamer era and the highest-rated Gamecock commitment since either Jordan Burch or Jadeveon Clowney depending on which recruiting service is used.
Carolina pulled in a future commitment, as well. The Gamecocks received their first pledge in the class of 2026 when big-time quarterback Landon Duckworth announced his intention to play his college football for the University of South Carolina. Duckworth does not yet have a rating as the class of ’26 is so far away, but he is extremely talented.
4-star wide receiver Jonathan Paylor publicly called South Carolina football his recruiting leader for most of the last year. However, in recent weeks, things seemed to shift toward NC State. His commitment on Friday confirmed that shift as he donned a Wolfpack hat at his commitment ceremony.
4-star defensive back Jalewis Solomon committed to Auburn after South Carolina appeared to be in the driver’s seat in his recruitment. Solomon’s older brother is a defensive lineman for the Tigers, and his younger brother is 5-star LB/EDGE prospect in the class of 2025, Zayden Walker.
4-star EDGE Booker Pickett, Jr. announced his top-5, and the Gamecocks made the cut. South Carolina, Miami, Florida State, Georgia, and Ohio State are his five finalists.
4-star interior offensive lineman Elyjah Thurmon put Carolina in his top-8 along with Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech, Florida, LSU, Missouri, and UCF.
Class of 2025 defensive back target Jontae Gilbert decommitted from Ohio State after a recent visit to Columbia. The 5-star secondary player seems to be a lean to the Gamecocks at this time, but there is still a lot of time remaining in his recruitment.
A number of Gamecocks were placed on preseason watch lists for prestigious college football awards.
Both Spencer Rattler and Antwane “Juice” Wells were put on the preseason list for the Maxwell Award given annually to the top player in college football (usually on offense).
Nick Emmanwori was nominated for the watch list for the Bronco Nagurski Award received by the country’s top defensive player.
Trey Knox was chosen as a preseason watchlist nominee for the John Mackey Award that goes to the top tight end in America every season.
Tonka Hemingway was placed on the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy awarded to the nation’s top interior lineman (OT, OG, C, DT).
Kai Kroeger, Mitch Jeter, and Hunter Rogers completed the specialist trifecta when the Gamecocks punter, kicker, and long snapper were listed on the preseason list for the Ray Guy Award, Lou Groza Award, and Patrick Mannelly Award, respectively.
Dakereon Joyner was selected as a nominee for the preseason watchlist for the Danny Wuerffel Award given every season to the player that best combines athletic, academic, and community service aptitude.
A former Gamecock is making the most of his NFL opportunity in training camp.
Wide receiver Jalen Brooks has performed very well for the Dallas Cowboys this summer. Brooks seems poised to secure a roster spot with the team if he continues his high level of play.
The South Carolina basketball team took an offseason trip to the Bahamas for a two-game exhibition run against professionals from Lithuania and Argentina.
While coach Lamont Paris said the trip was more about team bonding than about the actual basketball, it doesn’t hurt the Gamecocks that their new-look roster (with 8 newcomers) got some time playing together and came away with two lopsided victories against professionals.
In the Friday game against Zalgiris-2 from Lithuania, Carolina ran away in the 2nd half to win 86-60. The Gamecocks shot and made a lot of 3-pointers.
On Sunday, Paris’ squad beat Club Obras Argentina in dominant fashion 106-67 and continued featuring a heavy dose of 3-pointers to propel their offensive attack.
For the women’s basketball team, former 5-star Talaysia Cooper announced her transfer destination.
About a month after announcing her intention to leave the South Carolina basketball program, the former top prospect committed to SEC rival Tennessee.
A couple of Gamecock basketball alumni were reunited in the WNBA.
Center Alaina Coates signed a deal with the Las Vegas Aces to help fill the void left by the injured Candace Parker. Coates is reunited with the reigning WNBA MVP and Gamecock legend A’ja Wilson.
Speaking of A’ja Wilson…
The Las Vegas Aces forward won the WNBA’s Western Conference Player of the Month award for the second straight month.
The South Carolina baseball team underwent some roster attrition via the transfer portal.
First baseman/corner outfielder/designated hitter Jacob Compton has entered the portal and intends to leave the program. The left-handed power bat missed all of the 2023 season after transferring from Memphis and is on the move again.
A former Gamecocks was dealt at the MLB Trade Deadline.