South Carolina Basketball: Major Gamecock transfer portal target announces commitment

South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris has the Gamecocks in the running for some major targets in the transfer portal.

One of those targets was former UT-Martin guard Jordan Sears. The combo guard had put the Gamecocks on his list of top-6 schools recently, but on Thursday, he announced his commitment to a school other than the University of South Carolina.

According to a report from CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, Jordan Sears has committed to the LSU Tigers over the South Carolina Gamecocks, Alabama Crimson Tide, West Virginia Mountaineers, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and Arizona State Sun Devils.

Losing Sears to an SEC rival hurts a bit as the Gamecocks could really use a combo guard like him who can score and be a secondary creator alongside whichever point guard Coach Paris brings in via the transfer portal this offseason.

However, with USC being in the top-4 for guards JP Pegues and Dakota Leffew and still heavily involved with some other guards, it is not time for South Carolina basketball fans to panic. Paris' team has to bring in at least one guard (probably two) in the transfer portal, but his past successes in the portal in years 1 and 2 in Columbia have earned Paris the benefit of the doubt from the fanbase.

The Gamecocks also want to bring in a big this offseason. Based on how last year's offense operated, Carolina needs a big who can knock down shots and stretch the floor. Coach Paris has spoken before about how Collin Murray-Boyles can shoot the basketball. If CMB is ready to play the BJ Mack role from last season (just with much more athleticism), then the Gamecocks can try to get a long, shot-blocking big to join with CMB and Josh Gray as the experienced only rim protectors on the team.

Incoming freshmen Okku Federiko (forward) and Trent Noah (wing) could factor into next year's team, but what the Gamecocks do in the transfer portal this offseason will play a big role in how much they will featured, especially early in the year.