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markymark550 said:
I agree with @FurmanCock. If his NBA evaluations come back as a lottery pick, he should go pro. Sure, he could use another year to develop his game, but it's a gamble. He might not progress as much as expected, could get injured, other players in next year's draft may be better and push him down, etc. Go grab that bag while you can! Get that guaranteed contract and bet on yourself getting better to get that second contract.
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Really?
1.) What progress are the NBA scouts looking for? From what I’ve heard, they see him as a first rounder right now.
2.) He can get drafted even WITH an injury, unless it’s a career-ending one. Teams are willing to take a chance too.
3.) He’s not going to get pushed down much, if at all, with next year’s class. He’ll stay at pretty much the same spot… who would be the difference makers (To move him)?

I know you’re a fan, brother… not questioning that. But “go get that bag” is what has hurt the ‘Cocks too many times in the last 5-10 years. PJ Dozier, anyone?

We as fans need to encourage players to come back… heck, NIL $$ is almost as good as NBA money these days.
 
doublea1971 said:
Really?
1.) What progress are the NBA scouts looking for? From what I’ve heard, they see him as a first rounder right now.
2.) He can get drafted even WITH an injury, unless it’s a career-ending one. Teams are willing to take a chance too.
3.) He’s not going to get pushed down much, if at all, with next year’s class. He’ll stay at pretty much the same spot… who would be the difference makers (To move him)?

I know you’re a fan, brother… not questioning that. But “go get that bag” is what has hurt the ‘Cocks too many times in the last 5-10 years. PJ Dozier, anyone?

We as fans need to encourage players to come back… heck, NIL $$ is almost as good as NBA money these days.
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Sad what they’ve done to this sport with the portal. The days of 4 year players are over, 2 year players even are in jeopardy
 
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I’d rather lose than win the way Florida and Auburn are.

They are paying someone else’s college player, short term, for a few month basketball season.

Those players were developed at other schools and will be gone as soon as their team is eliminated
 
FurmanCock said:
Just to try and keep track of roster options...
On current team: Ugusuk, Butler, Scott and Federiko (total 4)

Still unknown: CMB and Stute (total 2)

High school recruits: Ellis, Walker, Polk and Assemain (total 4)

Portal transfers: Eaglestaff and Essandoko (total 2)

So we still have 3-5 spots available to fill. Think we still have to grab a PG, a good swing (preferably that can play defense), and another big or power forward.
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Ok, just revisiting this earlier effort, with revisions based on latest developments

On current team: Butler (total 1)

Still unknown: CMB and Stute (total 2)
High school recruits: Ellis, Walker, Polk and Assemain (total 4)

Portal transfers: Eaglestaff, Essandoko, Johnson, Knox (total 4)

So we now have 4-6 spots available to fill. Hoping we hear about new acquisitions soon.
 
FurmanCock said:
Ok, just revisiting this earlier effort, with revisions based on latest developments

On current team: Butler (total 1)

Still unknown: CMB and Stute (total 2)
High school recruits: Ellis, Walker, Polk and Assemain (total 4)

Portal transfers: Eaglestaff, Essandoko, Johnson, Knox (total 4)

So we now have 4-6 spots available to fill. Hoping we hear about new acquisitions soon.
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Thanks for that. The Ugusuk and Federiko transfers are odd, but… PORTAL, we all know how that goes. Grass is always greener ($$), or something like that.

Anyway… Butler and maybe Stute are all we get from the 2023-24 travesty. Hoping the portal brings us a nice bountiful haul for a COMPLETELY revamped roster.
 
doublea1971 said:
Really?
1.) What progress are the NBA scouts looking for? From what I’ve heard, they see him as a first rounder right now.
2.) He can get drafted even WITH an injury, unless it’s a career-ending one. Teams are willing to take a chance too.
3.) He’s not going to get pushed down much, if at all, with next year’s class. He’ll stay at pretty much the same spot… who would be the difference makers (To move him)?

I know you’re a fan, brother… not questioning that. But “go get that bag” is what has hurt the ‘Cocks too many times in the last 5-10 years. PJ Dozier, anyone?

We as fans need to encourage players to come back… heck, NIL $$ is almost as good as NBA money these days.
Click to expand...
Don't get me wrong, as a fan I want him back 100%. I was coming at this from a pure logic standpoint. What's best for the player isn't necessarily best for us as fans.

He's a likely lottery pick now. All I'm saying is that's not guaranteed to be the case next year. Bird in the hand, so to speak.

I think it's pretty obvious that if he does come back the NBA will want to see him develop his outside shot. As a somewhat undersized big, he'll be much more valuable if he can consistently hit 3s and stretch the defense.
 
From a record standpoint, this was one of the worst teams we have fielded since I started going to games during the 2013-14 season. The team was perceived as a "low effort" team by many of the fan base. This was the year for the role players of two years ago to step up win games for us, but they really didn't for the most part.

I care about the transfers, but I really don't. However I do think Lamont needs more money to expand his recruiting footprint nationwide. If we do that, I think he will find the right kids that will fit good with our culture.
 
Fran Fraschilla, former coach of St. John's and New Mexico

"I am guessing there are 500 D-1 (basketball) players that will make more than Phoenix Suns Collin Gillespie's 578K salary this year, one of the best college guards of the last decade. This fact alone is indicative of a broken system that wont sustain itself. Where are the administrative "adults in the room" that can help fix this? Gone."
 
Word has it that Coach Paris has reached out via portal to Honor Huff re: transfer to USC.

I can’t imagine a team with Meechie and Honor playing together. That would be non-stop 3 pointers (from the other end of the court, as soon as the ball is inbounded), with little to no inside play. 🤣🤣🤣
 
i havent watched tape of him yet, but there is a 10 minute video of his 24-25 season highlights on youtube and i think a 1:22 portal breakdown of him as well. based on the stats he looks like an offensive 4 who can stretch the floor but doesnt offer much rim protection. iono about the defense but it seems we've really improved the offensive talent with the players we've picked up.

even before filling out the roster further and getting another ball handler/creator, cmb if he comes back already has infinitely more help on the offensive side of the floor than he did last year.
 
Boca Bobby said:
I’d rather lose than win the way Florida and Auburn are.

They are paying someone else’s college player, short term, for a few month basketball season.

Those players were developed at other schools and will be gone as soon as their team is eliminated
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How would anyone rather lose, you would rather lose than win... that is the definition of a loser! I'm trying to win at all costs, I'm competitive and would push the boundary to win because that is how you win! You sound like Dabo...
Some of our best players have been transfers, Downey and Davis...
Jacobi Wright could be the last 4 year player at South Carolina, you might be right.
 
crowcutta said:
i havent watched tape of him yet, but there is a 10 minute video of his 24-25 season highlights on youtube and i think a 1:22 portal breakdown of him as well. based on the stats he looks like an offensive 4 who can stretch the floor but doesnt offer much rim protection. iono about the defense but it seems we've really improved the offensive talent with the players we've picked up.

even before filling out the roster further and getting another ball handler/creator, cmb if he comes back already has infinitely more help on the offensive side of the floor than he did last year.
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He is a true stretch 4, shoots 37% from 3 and got more efficient as the season went along. He reminds me a little of BJ Mack, in fact he was committed to Wofford as his replacement before he got better offers. Charlotte kid like Mack as well, like Mack.
 
GMB2USC23 said:
He is a true stretch 4, shoots 37% from 3 and got more efficient as the season went along. He reminds me a little of BJ Mack, in fact he was committed to Wofford as his replacement before he got better offers. Charlotte kid like Mack as well, like Mack.
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Careful about the Mack comparisons, @GMB2USC23. Strong will certainly be serviceable, but Mack had a MUCH more polished toolkit, and put up some impressive numbers pre-USC. Not knocking this portal grab… we need some help at the F/big man position for sure. Just temper the expectations at the rim for now.
 
FurmanCock said:
Gamecocks add 6'8" forward from Boston College, Elijah Strong:

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5174555/elijah-strong

Looks like a solid rotation guy, but will not replace CMB when he leaves for the NBA. Would love to get another big, and we desperately still need an experienced PG.
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This is a fair assessment, @FurmanCock

The ROI with him remains to be seen, but he’ll certainly give depth, which we need BADLY at that position right now.
 
doublea1971 said:
Careful about the Mack comparisons, @GMB2USC23. Strong will certainly be serviceable, but Mack had a MUCH more polished toolkit, and put up some impressive numbers pre-USC. Not knocking this portal grab… we need some help at the F/big man position for sure. Just temper the expectations at the rim for now.
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There numbers are almost identical except Mack averaged 5 more points a game at Wofford, Strong played in the ACC. I get what you are saying but they have comparable games, size and stats while only being a SOPH.
 
GMB2USC23 said:
There numbers are almost identical except Mack averaged 5 more points a game at Wofford, Strong played in the ACC. I get what you are saying but they have comparable games, size and stats while only being a SOPH.
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Ummm… OK.

Are you looking at the same stats as me? Mack put up 142 total points in 2020-21 (Soph). Strong had a total of 52 points in 2024-25. That 5 PPG you mention equates to a difference of 90 total points. That’s NOT a small difference.

In 2020-21, Mack had 9 blocks and 44 total PFs. Strong in his 2024-25 season had 0 blocks and 13 PFs. To my way of understanding basketball, there is a significant aggressiveness difference there.

Sorry… I’m not trying to turn this into an argument. Just trying to say… be realistic and temper expectations. This is a development project with good upside.

Mack was pretty darned polished in his initial campaign at Wofford, and was seeing 17.9 MPG. 379 total minutes played. Versus 130 total minutes played for Strong. Mack improved his minutes and numbers significantly from there.

In my estimation, they’re VERY different players overall. Size… yes, similar. Skillset, however, quite different.
 
not that ive watched him play, but i like the idea of the utah guard. good assist/to ratio and has length. while beggars cant be choosers im kinda weary after last season of bringing in an undersized guard and starting him next to meechie next season. talent obviously is the most important thing and having more players who can create and score. such a kick in the balls to lose cmb though it was expected and then have the perimeter scorer with size that the team lacked last season in eaglestaff bail on us.

we did make the tourney with meechie as our leading scorer, but if we cant find a go to guy do we at least find our mack, cooper, and cmb who all could lead us in scoring on any given night.
 
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