USC men’s basketball announced on Thursday the addition of LSU transfer Josh Gray to its roster. The 6-11 center was recruited by the Gamecocks out of high school but ultimately signed with the Tigers in 2020. Gray, who officially entered the transfer portal in early May, is USC’s fifth incoming transfer on scholarship for this upcoming season.
A Brooklyn, N.Y. native who played at Putnam Science Academy (CT), Gray was considered the 2020 recruiting class’s No. 34 center and No. 3 prospect from the state of New York. His scholarship became available when Alanzo Frink decided to transfer out of the program in mid-June.
Gray averaged less than one point and just over a rebound in ten minutes per game this past season for LSU. In high school, he averaged nearly a double-double per night, recording ten points and nine rebounds, along with two blocked shots per game. According to John Whittle of TheBigSpur, Gray is a more traditional big man that likes to play with his back to the basket.
In addition to Gray, the other transfers into the USC program are: guards Erik Stevenson and Chico Carter, a small forward in James Reese and another big in AJ Wilson.
So which one of the transfers doesn’t count towards our 13 scholarships. I was thinking neither Reese nor Wilson counted, since both of them were seniors last season. According to another site, we have reached our scholarship limit, which means one of those two must count towards our limit. I’m guessing A.J. Wilson is the one who doesn’t count, since he was listed as a RS senior by his previous school. Reese was just listed as a regular senior.
Martin will be a walk-on.
Yes, I know he won’t count. But according to my count I’ve got Chico Carter, Jacobi Wright, Jermaine Cousinard, James Reese, Devin Carter, Keyshawn Bryant, Erik Stevenson, A.J. Wilson, Taquon Woodley, Carlous Williams, Ja’Von Benson, Wildens Leveque, Tre-Vaughn Minott, and Josh Gray. That’s 15 scholarships, so 2 must not count towards our limit, unless I’m missing Yes, I know he won’t count. But we’ve got Chico Carter, Jacobi Wright, Jermaine Cousinard, James Reese, Devin Carter, Keyshawn Bryant, Erik Stevenson, A.J. Wilson, Taquon Woodley, Carlous Williams, Ja’Von Benson, Wildens Leveque, Tre-Vaughn Minott, and Josh Gray. That’s 14 scholarship players, but we have two incoming senior transfers. Shouldn’t neither of them count? Apparently one of them does, or else we’d have 1 spot still open (14-2 seniors transfers=12 scholarships).
Carlous Williams did not sign, thus there are 13 on the roster..
Ahh ok. I was thinking those seniors must not count towards the limit, since that put us over 13. You’re right though, I forgot Williams never signed.
On that note, does that mean Carlins Platel will count towards our 85 for football? I wasn’t sure about that since he is a Super Senior, but he’s at a new school.
yes.
Got ya, thanks for straightening things out for me again. So that puts us at 82. I’d post my projected football depth chart, but it’d be a little too laborious to type up a 3 tab Excel spreadsheet (4 if I count the scholarship distribution tab). Actually, I have two versions. One with Jenkins as a WR, and the other with him as a TE.
Finally got all the football numbers figured out, thanks to you, but now I’m confused on the basketball numbers haha
Here’s my projected depth chart, for what it’s worth:
PG: C. Carter, Wright
SG: Couisnard, Reese, D. Carter
SF: Bryant, Stevenson
PF: Wilson, Woodley, Williams, Benson
C: Leveque, Minott, Gray
Of course that’s just my best guess, and not based off any insider intel or anything. And I’m sure the rotations will switch things up too, like Bryant could play the 3 or 4, depending on who he’s out there. Couisnard the 1, 2, or 3. Stevenson the 2 or 3. Etc.
Why did ALONZO FRINK transfer out??? THAT is a HUGE loss for the FIGHTING GAMECOCKS as Coach Martin said many times he was expecting him back. Que Pasa????
Idk, but seems like every year he says he expects no one to transfer out, but then there’s at least one defection. Would love to still have Frink and McCreary. Think we would’ve been better off holding on to them, instead of signing Woodley and Gray, but hopefully they prove me wrong. Like Frank Martin as a coach and person (in fact I remember thinking it’d be awesome if we could hire him away from K-State after we let go of Darrin Horn, and then that actually happened), but definitely think our recruiting has suffered, because most young people don’t want to come play for someone who is so hard on them. Especially all the in-state talent we miss out on year after year. Imagine what we could’ve done with Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. He does develop players well though, pretty much everyone we’ve had got significantly better by the time they were upperclassmen.