USC basketball went 0-for-2 on Wednesday in terms of retaining players for the 2026-27 basketball season. First, women’s basketball player Madina Okot had her waiver for an additional year of eligibility denied by the NCAA. This will end Okot’s career with the Gamecocks, as she will now focus on the WNBA draft, which is scheduled for next Monday.
“Early in her basketball career, Madina made courageous choices not just to pursue just the sport, but also to better her life,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said in a media release. “Her path included just a short time with us in Columbia, but we are grateful to be part of her story. She made our team and our sport better.”
In just two seasons in the NCAA, Okot became one of the top centers in the nation. This season she ranked third in the country with 22 double-doubles, 16th in rebounding average (10.6), and 19th in field goal percentage (.575). Okot was an All-SEC Second Team selection and was the Gamecocks’ top rebounder in 29 of her 39 games played, turning in one of the best rebounding seasons in program history.
Then on Wednesday afternoon, Gamecock Central broke the news that men’s basketball guard Cam Scott, who redshirted this past season, is transferring. Scott is the seventh Gamecock player out of 10 eligible to return that is entering the transfer portal.
The sophomore also entered the transfer portal after his freshman season. He was there for 28 days before ultimately withdrawing and sticking with the Gamecocks.
“Seeing … if I could fit into the program and fit in how they want me to fit in, we ultimately came to the decision this was the place I needed to be,” Scott said at the team’s media day. “No better choice than to come back.”
A product of Lexington High School, Scott was all-state five times and finished with a school record of 2,475 points. He also holds the school record for steals in a season with 100 and the single-game scoring record with 43 points.