South Carolina Basketball: Lamont Paris finalizes 2024-2025 roster

South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris has completed his 2024-2025 roster.

After an offseason that included adding a player formerly signed to another program, losing a player formerly signed to the Gamecocks, bringing in an international player who had been committed longer than some of the players in the previous class, and securing another strong transfer portal class, Paris and the Gamecocks found themselves with one open scholarship remaining.

After some brief conversations with other prospects, Paris' move was announced on Saturday: according to a report from WisSports.net's Mark Miller, South Carolina basketball was putting former walk-on guard Austin Herro on scholarship.

Herro, the younger brother of Miami Heat star Tyler Herro, walked on last year and redshirted. He has four more years of eligibility.

As a player, Herro has some real upside as a scorer. At about 6'2", he is a combo guard who can shoot the ball from outside and make tough shots, even in traffic. He isn't a true point guard but can play the spot in certain situations, and his passing ability allowed him to average around 5 assists per game in high school.

If Herro can be a serviceable defender, there is a way he can see the floor as a redshirt freshman. Perimeter shooting (especially from the 1 and 2-spot) is a little bit of a question mark. There are plenty of players who could see time at those spots for the Gamecocks who have shown the ability to make shots, but Coach Paris' team will need some to become more consistent. If Herro can provide that, he might be able to play an important bench role.

Likely, Herro will battle with younger perimeter players like Morris Ugusuk (sophomore) and Arden Conyers (redshirt freshman) for minutes. Each of the three has some shooting upside but offers something different as a secondary skill. Herro can be a playmaker, Ugusuk has a high defensive ceiling (if he can gain weight and strength), and Conyers is 6'6"/6'7".

Depending on how well each of these players can shoot the ball and what else USC needs could determine which of those three players sees the most time on the perimeter behind veterans Jamarii Thomas (PG/SG), Jacobi Wright (SG/PG), Zach Davis (SF/SG), and Myles Stute (SF) and uber-talented true freshman Cam Scott (SG/SG/PG).