The South Carolina Gamecocks baseball program under head coach Kevin Schnall is continuing to get some big wins on the recruiting trail. The Gamecocks landed a new left-handed pitcher in Nic Gibson this week, and it may be a name that South Carolina fans recognize.Â
Gibson, who played the last three seasons at JUCO Central Arizona College, was previously committed to South Carolina's 2026 staff, which included head coach Paul Mainieri. But Gibson missed the 2026 season due to injury that required Tommy John surgery, causing the staff to go in a different direction. As Gamecock247 reports, Gibson was initially planning on following his teammate, pitcher Brock Johnson to Coastal Carolina, where Coach Schnall was the head coach the last couple of seasons. Although Gibson never ended up joining Schnall and the Chanticleers, the staff offered him to join the Gamecocks instead.Â
"I love to win and they've had a winning program. Coastal Carolina is a very successful program," Gibson told 247Sports of his decision to commit to South Carolina. "They have a coaching staff that is successful and wins baseball games. I love to compete, love to win."Â
Gamecocks land a commitment from Central Arizona College left-handed pitcher, Nic Gibson! Per @johnmwhittle of @247Gamecocks. He was the teammate of Gamecocks right handed pitcher, Brock Johnson. He has missed the majority of the past two seasons but will have a chance to compete… pic.twitter.com/omtsy4TaAz
— The Sarge Daily (@TheSargeDaily) July 21, 2026
Gibson has missed the better part of two collegiate seasons due to injuries, so his stats are pretty limited. During the 2023-24 season, he appeared in 14 games, with a 5.92 ERA across 19 innings pitched. He registered 26 strikeouts. Coming out of Emerald Ridge High School in South Hill, Washington, Gibson had a 5.38 ERA with a 1-6 win-loss record, per MaxPreps. Â
In the end, he also gets to follow his former Central Arizona teammate after all, as Johnson is also with the Gamecocks now. At South Carolina, Gibson will join an elite coaching staff in Columbia. It includes pitching coach Matt Williams, assistant coach Chad Oxendine and recruiting coordinator Tyler Shewmaker. All three guys were at Coastal with Schnall over the last two seasons. South Carolina's transfer portal class is already considered to be one of the best in the country, and he is continuing to add to that in the offseason.
Congrats to Gibson on joining the Gamecocks for a second time, and welcome home to Columbia!
ALSO READ: Kevin Schnall adds longtime Gamecock staffer Stuart Lake to staff
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