Full Breakdown
South Carolina Gamecocks Accelerate Roster Rebuild Ahead of 2026-27 Season
4/28/2026, 10:17:42 PM
Core Roster Overhaul via Transfer Portal
The Gamecocks face a major roster turnover for 2026-27. Five seniors—Meechie Johnson, Nordin Kapic, Kobe Knox, Mike Sharavjamts, and Myles Stute—have exhausted eligibility, and a further seven players, including Jordan Butler (Furman) and Eli Ellis (College of Charleston), have entered the transfer portal. Only four-star guard Marcus Johnson remains from the high-school class. The NCAA transfer portal opened on April 7 and stayed open for two weeks, leaving nine roster spots to fill. Marcus Johnson, a four-star guard, is the sole high-school signee.
Transfer Portal Additions
South Carolina has secured five incoming transfers: point guard Kory Mincy from George Mason, wing Camden Heide from Texas, power forward Aleksas Bieliauskas from Wisconsin, shooting guard Shane Blakeney from Drexel, and forward/center Jakub Necas from Duquesne. Necas is the fifth portal commitment this cycle and the second European-born addition after Lithuanian big man Bieliauskas. All five are expected to join the roster for the 2026-27 season.
Profile: Jakub Necas
Czech native Jakub Necas, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward from Blansko, joins the Gamecocks after three seasons with Duquesne. He appeared in 96 career games (53 starts) and posted 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and a 50 % field-goal rate in 2025-26 while averaging 24.4 minutes. Necas helped Duquesne win the 2024 Atlantic 10 Tournament and contributed 12 points and six rebounds in the NCAA upset of No. 6 seed BYU. Internationally, he was named one of ten Rising Stars for the Czech Republic at the 2024 FIBA U20 EuroBasket, leading the event with 18.6 points per game. He has one season of eligibility left and is expected to contribute immediately. He will begin the season as a senior.
Coach Paris’s Strategy and Expected Impact
Entering his fifth season, head coach Lamont Paris must replace nine roster spots while preserving competitiveness. The portal class adds size, shooting and defensive versatility, with Necas providing interior presence and international experience. By integrating the transfers quickly, Paris aims to stabilize the frontcourt, improve rebounding and diversify offensive options, positioning the Gamecocks for a stronger showing in the SEC.
Official Statements & Responses
Necas pledged his commitment to Coach Paris earlier in the week before the public announcement. The university issued a signing release on Monday evening; CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz was the first outlet to report the addition, and Gamecocks Central’s Wes Mitchell also covered the transfer. The signing release confirmed his enrollment.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
On3 and Rivals have not yet assigned a recruiting ranking to Necas, and the coaching staff has not released a detailed role or minutes projection.
What’s Next
Preseason practices in Columbia will integrate the five transfers, and the 2026-27 season opener will test roster cohesion and Necas’s immediate contributions. Early scrimmages will help the staff assess on-court chemistry.
