Reshaping of men's basketball roster for the 2023/2024 season
August 01, 2023
the Gamecocks have bolstered their squad with a slew of veteran transfers this offseason, headlined by former Wofford big man B.J. Mack. Paris admitted last season he didn’t have the personnel to play the style of basketball he prefers, but the offseason additions should change that.
“Versatility” is the keyword with this year’s group. Paris’ system, at least from an offensive standpoint, mimics much of what is trending in the NBA spacing out the floor and having multiple players who can score from both the perimeter and in the post. It’s an almost position-less style of basketball that the Gamecocks didn’t have the athleticism and length to play last year. “It’s always been Coach Paris’ philosophy just to be able to space the floor with guys that can shoot the ball but also know how to play and understand the game be basketball players as we like to say,” assistant coach Tanner Bronson told The State. “We like bigger-than-average guys, longer-than-average guys so that you can cover up some mistakes defensively and be able to post a variety of guys. ... I think this roster is better suited for that.” The men’s basketball season doesn’t start until November, but the Gamecocks have reported to campus and are looking to build off of last year’s foundation. On Thursday, USC will head to the Bahamas for two exhibition games overseas against Zalgiris-2 (from Lithuana) on Friday and against Obras Basket (from Argentina) on Sunday.
Gamecocks return key players like Johnson, Jacobi Wright, and big man Josh Gray, but the Gamecocks will undoubtedly lean on plenty of new faces as well with four transfers and three freshmen coming in. Bronson broke down those new faces for The State (with the exception of Finnish freshman Morris Ugusuk, who arrived to campus later than others due to visa issues), providing insight on what he has seen from them so far and how those players fit into Paris’ vision for the team.
TA’LON COOPER
Cooper was the first transfer to commit to USC this offseason and has South Carolina roots. He played basketball at Dorman High in Spartanburg County, leading Dorman to state titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19. A 6-foot-4 point guard who finished second in the Big Ten last year with 6.3 assists per game, Cooper played just one season with the Gophers after three seasons at Morehead State. He averaged 9.9 points and shot 40% from the field at Minnesota. “Ta’Lon understands the game,” Bronson said. “You don’t average over six assists a game for no reason. He’s a setup guy. He likes to get others involved. He has a mindset like that. But he can also score the ball and make shots and do some different things. And he’s big. I mean, he’s a big guard. And so I think that that all helps. “He started every game for Minnesota last year. So he’s played at that Power Five level, a lot of games in a lot of environments. Been to the NCAA Tournament when he was at Morehead.
B.J. MACK
A 6-foot-8 transfer from Wofford, Mack is exactly the kind of player the Gamecocks could’ve used in the post last year an experienced, polished big man who can also shoot from deep and stretch the floor. In his last two seasons as an everyday starter for the Terriers, Mack averaged 16 points per game, and he’s averaged 5.2 rebounds per game in his career. Playing for an analytically driven coaching staff at Wofford that encourages 3-point shooting, Mack refined that part of his game, making 52 of 155 attempts (33.5%) last season.
STEPHEN CLARK
Clark averaged 16.6 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Bulldogs last year and was a second-team all-Southern Conference selection. “Stephen has started more games than anyone on our roster, so it gives you an idea of his experience,” Bronson said. “He’s got good length. He’s a way better athlete than people think. He’s got some really good athleticism. He’s a good ball-handler for a big guy, so he can kind of drive and get in there and he has the ability to counter and make shots around the basket, post moves, and things like that
COLLIN MURRAY-BOYLES
A local product from Columbia, 6-foot-7 forward Murray-Boyles shot up recruiting rankings during his final high school season and comes to South Carolina as a four-star prospect. “We really liked Collin for his skill set, his ability to play the game,” Bronson said. “He could see things. I think he can make shots. I think he’s a very versatile guy and can do a lot of things, and then he also improved his body so much. He was always a pretty good athlete, but now he’s becoming a really good athlete. So he’s got a chance to really have a pretty big impact very early because of his skill set, his athleticism.
ARDEN CONYERS
Much like Murray-Boyles, Conyers is another local product from Blythewood who played high school ball at Westwood High. A 6-foot-6 guard, Conyers comes to South Carolina as a three-star prospect. “He can really shoot the ball. He’s got good athleticism. He’s gonna have a chance to have a really, really good career. So we’ve been really pleased. A guy that’s long and can shoot and athletic sounds pretty good, you know? And he’s been doing a great job and just kind of taking it all in.
LOST AND FOUND
FOUND
Ta’Lon Cooper (Minnesota, transfer)
Stephen Clark (Citadel, transfer)
B.J. Mack (Wofford, transfer)
Myles Stute (Vanderbilt, transfer)
Collin Murray-Boyles (HS signee)
Arden Conyers (HS signee)
Morris Ugusuk (International signee) —
LOST
GG Jackson (NBA Draft)
Ja’Von Benson (transfer portal)
Tre-Vaughn Minott (transfer portal)
Chico Carter Jr. (transfer portal)
Daniel Hankins-Sanford (transfer portal)
Ford Cooper (transfer portal)
Hayden Brown (out of eligibility)
August 01, 2023
the Gamecocks have bolstered their squad with a slew of veteran transfers this offseason, headlined by former Wofford big man B.J. Mack. Paris admitted last season he didn’t have the personnel to play the style of basketball he prefers, but the offseason additions should change that.
“Versatility” is the keyword with this year’s group. Paris’ system, at least from an offensive standpoint, mimics much of what is trending in the NBA spacing out the floor and having multiple players who can score from both the perimeter and in the post. It’s an almost position-less style of basketball that the Gamecocks didn’t have the athleticism and length to play last year. “It’s always been Coach Paris’ philosophy just to be able to space the floor with guys that can shoot the ball but also know how to play and understand the game be basketball players as we like to say,” assistant coach Tanner Bronson told The State. “We like bigger-than-average guys, longer-than-average guys so that you can cover up some mistakes defensively and be able to post a variety of guys. ... I think this roster is better suited for that.” The men’s basketball season doesn’t start until November, but the Gamecocks have reported to campus and are looking to build off of last year’s foundation. On Thursday, USC will head to the Bahamas for two exhibition games overseas against Zalgiris-2 (from Lithuana) on Friday and against Obras Basket (from Argentina) on Sunday.
Gamecocks return key players like Johnson, Jacobi Wright, and big man Josh Gray, but the Gamecocks will undoubtedly lean on plenty of new faces as well with four transfers and three freshmen coming in. Bronson broke down those new faces for The State (with the exception of Finnish freshman Morris Ugusuk, who arrived to campus later than others due to visa issues), providing insight on what he has seen from them so far and how those players fit into Paris’ vision for the team.
TA’LON COOPER
Cooper was the first transfer to commit to USC this offseason and has South Carolina roots. He played basketball at Dorman High in Spartanburg County, leading Dorman to state titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19. A 6-foot-4 point guard who finished second in the Big Ten last year with 6.3 assists per game, Cooper played just one season with the Gophers after three seasons at Morehead State. He averaged 9.9 points and shot 40% from the field at Minnesota. “Ta’Lon understands the game,” Bronson said. “You don’t average over six assists a game for no reason. He’s a setup guy. He likes to get others involved. He has a mindset like that. But he can also score the ball and make shots and do some different things. And he’s big. I mean, he’s a big guard. And so I think that that all helps. “He started every game for Minnesota last year. So he’s played at that Power Five level, a lot of games in a lot of environments. Been to the NCAA Tournament when he was at Morehead.
B.J. MACK
A 6-foot-8 transfer from Wofford, Mack is exactly the kind of player the Gamecocks could’ve used in the post last year an experienced, polished big man who can also shoot from deep and stretch the floor. In his last two seasons as an everyday starter for the Terriers, Mack averaged 16 points per game, and he’s averaged 5.2 rebounds per game in his career. Playing for an analytically driven coaching staff at Wofford that encourages 3-point shooting, Mack refined that part of his game, making 52 of 155 attempts (33.5%) last season.
MYLES STUTE
As a sophomore during the 2021-22 season, the versatile 6-foot-7 215-pound forward finished first in the SEC with a .432 3-point shooting percentage. That percentage dipped to 36% last year, but Stute still ranked seventh in the SEC with 149 3-pointers on the season, and he averaged 8.4 points per game for the Commodores. “We’ve increased shooting with Stute, obviously,” Bronson said. “It’s documented he led the league in 3-point shooting, I think two years ago, he can really put the ball in the hole. Now you got a guy (in Cooper) that can find other guys and make some things happen, and that’s kind of where that pairing could be fun to see.”STEPHEN CLARK
Clark averaged 16.6 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Bulldogs last year and was a second-team all-Southern Conference selection. “Stephen has started more games than anyone on our roster, so it gives you an idea of his experience,” Bronson said. “He’s got good length. He’s a way better athlete than people think. He’s got some really good athleticism. He’s a good ball-handler for a big guy, so he can kind of drive and get in there and he has the ability to counter and make shots around the basket, post moves, and things like that
COLLIN MURRAY-BOYLES
A local product from Columbia, 6-foot-7 forward Murray-Boyles shot up recruiting rankings during his final high school season and comes to South Carolina as a four-star prospect. “We really liked Collin for his skill set, his ability to play the game,” Bronson said. “He could see things. I think he can make shots. I think he’s a very versatile guy and can do a lot of things, and then he also improved his body so much. He was always a pretty good athlete, but now he’s becoming a really good athlete. So he’s got a chance to really have a pretty big impact very early because of his skill set, his athleticism.
ARDEN CONYERS
Much like Murray-Boyles, Conyers is another local product from Blythewood who played high school ball at Westwood High. A 6-foot-6 guard, Conyers comes to South Carolina as a three-star prospect. “He can really shoot the ball. He’s got good athleticism. He’s gonna have a chance to have a really, really good career. So we’ve been really pleased. A guy that’s long and can shoot and athletic sounds pretty good, you know? And he’s been doing a great job and just kind of taking it all in.
LOST AND FOUND
FOUND
Ta’Lon Cooper (Minnesota, transfer)
Stephen Clark (Citadel, transfer)
B.J. Mack (Wofford, transfer)
Myles Stute (Vanderbilt, transfer)
Collin Murray-Boyles (HS signee)
Arden Conyers (HS signee)
Morris Ugusuk (International signee) —
LOST
GG Jackson (NBA Draft)
Ja’Von Benson (transfer portal)
Tre-Vaughn Minott (transfer portal)
Chico Carter Jr. (transfer portal)
Daniel Hankins-Sanford (transfer portal)
Ford Cooper (transfer portal)
Hayden Brown (out of eligibility)
