Gamecocks to Revamp Roster for 2026-27 Season

The South Carolina men's basketball team faces a rebuild with 12 new players on the roster for the upcoming year.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Basketball

Gamecocks to Revamp Roster for 2026-27 Season

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South Carolina men's basketball is set to undergo a major transformation as the team enters the 2026-27 season with 12 new roster additions. This overhaul comes as the program attempts to revitalize its performance after a period of struggle in the SEC.

Why it matters

The program is looking to move past a difficult stretch in the SEC that has resulted in a 6-30 conference record over the last two years. This season represents a critical juncture for head coach Lamont Paris as he seeks to stabilize the team.

The roster features new contributors including Kory Minor, who joins with a 14.3 points per game average, and Camden Heide, who recorded a 45.4% 3-point average at Texas. These additions join a squad that went 13-19 overall and 4-14 in conference play last season.

The players

Lamont Paris

He serves as the head coach of the South Carolina men's basketball team and currently holds a 62-68 overall record with the program.

Davion Hannah

A transfer player arriving from Alabama who averaged 3.3 points per game over 10 appearances last season.

Kory Minor

A transfer athlete from George Mason who joins the Gamecocks bringing a scoring average of 14.3 points per game.

Shane Blakeney

A transfer from Drexel who enters the South Carolina program with an average of 14.2 points per game.

Juan Fernandez

A 6-foot-11 forward who is expected to see significant action and could potentially secure a starting position this season.

The details

The team added a wide variety of transfers such as Shane Blakeney, Jakub Necas, and Aleksas Bieliauskas to bolster the lineup. Juan Fernandez, a 6-foot-11 forward, is also expected to compete for significant playing time and a potential starting role.

The team plays games in Palm Springs against USC and Arizona State in Nov 2026.
The SEC conference opener against LSU is scheduled for Jan 2, 2027.
The Gamecocks host No. 7 Texas on Jan 27, 2027.
The team travels to play No. 1 Florida on Feb 2, 2027.

Season Trajectory

The team's projected last-place finish in the SEC conference standings sets a low baseline for a program attempting to rebound from a 6-30 conference record over the past two seasons. This overhaul will dictate whether the Gamecocks can climb out of the bottom of the league hierarchy.

Fans should monitor how the high volume of transfers affects the team's chemistry during the early season SEC matchups. With only three returning players, the rotation will likely remain fluid as the team navigates its January schedule against ranked opponents.

The takeaway

The sheer number of new faces suggests that the early portion of the season will be defined by experimental lineups and adaptation. Success for South Carolina will depend on how quickly these transfers can integrate into a cohesive unit under Lamont Paris.