South Carolina Basketball: Palmetto State native at position of need hits the portal

South Carolina basketball got a huge boost on Wednesday morning when 6'5" shooting guard and Lexington native Cam Scott announced his commitment to the Gamecocks less than a week after requesting his release from his signed NLI to the Texas Longhorns. Scott could fight for starting minutes on the perimeter for a USC squad with postseason hopes once again next season.

Coach Lamont Paris and his team still have some needs in the transfer portal as there is not a proven point guard on the roster, and the team needs another true center to split the majority of the 5-spot minutes with Josh Gray. With two scholarships remaining for the Gamecocks as of now, those two needs would seem to be the top priority for the team this spring.

Late on Tuesday night, a new name entered the transfer portal that should be very intriguing to South Carolina basketball fans. South Carolina native Nick Pringle, who began his career at Wofford before starting for the Final Four Alabama Crimson Tide squad this year, is transferring out of Nate Oats' program.

Typically listed at 6'10" and 230 pounds, Pringle is a springy athlete who has enough bulk and strength to play the center spot in the SEC. He also has really nice length and an aggressive mean streak as a finisher and shot contester.

The Gamecocks have to get some shooting from the 4 and 5 spots this season, and Pringle doesn't provide that. However, Collin Murray-Boyles was a good shooter last summer before a bout with mononucleosis derailed his preseason preparation. Lamont Paris has said repeatedly that the star power forward will be a good shooter next season. Incoming freshman Okku Federiko (who can play any frontcourt spot) has a good shooting touch, as well.

If Murray-Boyles and Federiko (and, possibly, some small ball minutes with Myles Stute at the 4-spot) can provide the Gamecocks with the flexibility to stretch the floor, a player like Pringle would fit very nicely with Josh Gray as the top centers on the roster.

Last year's Gamecocks lacked players that had the size, strength, length, and defensive aptitude to defend high-quality, athletic bigs as Josh Gray was the only player taller than 6'8" on the entire roster. That will need to change for the Gamecocks to take a step forward next season, and Nick Pringle feels like a name to watch who could be that missing piece.

You can watch some of his film here.