South Carolina Basketball: Gamecocks make top group for 5-star wing

South Carolina basketball fans have their eyes primarily on the transfer portal right now as head coach Lamont Paris is working on putting the finishing touches on the 2024-2025 Gamecock roster.

However, the quarter zip king has been working the class of 2025 for some time, as well. Carolina already has two 4-star prospects committed in the class of elite scoring guard Eli Ellis and powerful, athletic power forward Hayden Assemian have been pledged to the Gamecocks for a while.

Coach Paris doesn't appear to be done in the '25 cycle as he has his Gamecocks in the mix for a 5-star prospect who is ranked as highly as #17 in the nation.

According to a report from On3's Joe Tipton, Jamier Jones has cut his final list down to six schools, and South Carolina basketball made the cut. Joining the South Carolina Gamecocks in Jones' top-6 are the Kansas Jayhawks, Providence Friars, Houston Cougars, Ohio State Buckeyes, and LSU Tigers. In Tipton's report, he also revealed the Jones is slated to make his college commitment on May 12th, which is Mother's Day.

Jones is from Florida and has played at both IMG Academy and Oak Ridge High School. He has been high on the Gamecocks for some time, and has taken a visit to Columbia as one of three total visits (along with LSU and Providence).

As a player, Jones is an athletic freak. Given any space at all, the 6'6" and 210-pound wing is looking to throw down. He is a high effort player, and he uses his athleticism well as he rebounds and defends.

He is also a good passer, and with his gravity on drives to the basket, he routinely finds open teammates for easy buckets when the attention turns to him.

Jones is becoming a much better shot-maker, as well, and his improved form and technique will lend itself to continued improvement. He can knock down shots with hands in his face, and 3-point jumpers have become a more regular part of his game in the last year.

You can watch some of his highlights here.