South Carolina Basketball: Big man from Palmetto State hits transfer portal

South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris has two scholarships currently available to play with in the transfer portal, and after a majorly successful second season at the helm of the Gamecock program, he has two clear positions of need on his roster that he will address in the transfer portal.

With Ta'Lon Cooper's graduation, USC is in need of a point guard who can do a little bit of everything for the garnet and black. Cooper played the role of steady facilitator and efficient outside shooter on offense, while chipping in as an above-average defender and rebounder for the position. The Gamecocks might not need that exact type of point guard next year (though, that would be nice), but whoever Coach Paris lands must be a player who can distribute the basketball.

The other position of need is at center. Currently, Josh Gray is the only true center on the roster and the only player taller than 6'9". The Gamecocks need some floor-stretching down low to replace the role played by BJ Mack last season, but if SEC All-Freshman Collin Murray-Boyles can start knocking down shots as expected, then the new transfer portal center doesn't have to be a shooter as long as he can affect the game with size and length.

The Gamecocks have been involved with several players at each position (most recently, guard Dakota Leffew from Mount Saint Mary's and center Nick Pringle from Alabama), but on Friday evening, a new name came into the picture as Missouri Tigers center Jordan Butler entered the transfer portal.

Butler is an intriguing fit for the Gamecock roster if Lamont Paris elects to recruit him. He is from the state of South Carolina, and at 7'0" tall, he also has a plus-wingspan. In just 11 minutes per game as a freshman at Mizzou, he averaged nearly a block per contest. He also can shoot the basketball, though, he struggled to do so with the Tigers.

Both of Butler's parents have major ties to South Carolina other than the fact that they live in the Palmetto State. His father John is the head coach at Christ Church Episcopal School, one of the top smaller high school basketball programs in the state. His mother Casie played basketball for the South Carolina basketball program and is a loyal Gamecock.

Butler is a former 4-star prospect who will have three years of eligibility remaining at his new school.