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Kevin Schnall, South Carolina flip elite 2026 shortstop Ethan Bass from Wake Forest

The Gamecocks are cleaning up on the recruiting trail so far.
ByMorgan Moriarty|
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Jun 13, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers head coach Kevin Schnall looks to the field during the game against the Arizona Wildcats during the fifth inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
Jun 13, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers head coach Kevin Schnall looks to the field during the game against the Arizona Wildcats during the fifth inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The South Carolina Gamecocks baseball program is cleaning up on the recruiting trail. New head coach Kevin Schnall has already landed one of the nation's top transfer portal classes in 2026, but he isn't stopping there. 

On Wednesday evening, the Gamecocks coaching staff successfully flipped 2026 shortstop Ethan Bass, who was previously committed to Wake Forest. Baseball America ranks Bass as the No. 57 overall player in the 2026 class. 

This is a big get for Schnall and the Gamecocks, and it just might be thanks to the new South Carolina head coach's hire of Bill Cilento. The longtime Wake Forest hitting coach was hired by Schnall last month. Bass had been committed to Wake Forest since the fall of 2024, and is a native of Northbrook, Ill. Previously, he was committed to his in-state school Illinois. 

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Bass is rated as the nation's No. 21 overall shortstop by Perfect Game, and the No. 2 overall player from his home state. The outlet describes Bass as a "High energy athlete who can really play defense, big arm strength and top of the line agility, bat took a big step forward in 2024." Although he had entered his name in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, he did not hear his name called earlier this month.

The Wake Forest-South Carolina recruiting pipeline has been good to the Gamecocks in recent weeks. South Carolina has also landed the likes of former Demon Deacons Andrew and Luke Costello, as well as big-time slugger JD Stein. Bass joins a 2026 South Carolina recruiting class that features pitcher Walker Cox, utility players Miles Keogh and Slaide Burd, as well as catcher Alain Gomez-Guidiño. 

It's obviously quite early in Schnall's tenure, but he is wasting no time building an elite roster. It might take a season or two to see the results of his efforts on the recruiting trail, but he's proven his commitment to bringing elite talent to Columbia. 

Congrats to Bass on committing to the Gamecocks, and welcome home! 

Kevin Schnall lands LHP Nic Gibson, former South Carolina commit, via transfer portal

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