USC men’s basketball has landed a second commitment from an international pro. Two days after the program officially announced the signing of 6’11” forward Juan Fernandez, the Gamecocks have landed Spanish forward Hugo Lopez, Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress reported on Wednesday morning.
Lopez, a 6-9 forward from Spain, has played the last four years at the country’s second professional level. The 22-year-old will bring multiple years of junior national team experience to Columbia, as well. According to Gamecock Central, Lopez played his most recent season for Movistar Estudiantes in Spain’s Primera FEB league, where he averaged three points and four rebounds a game in eleven minutes per contest. He was not a starter but played some of his best ball late in the year. Lopez can score near the basket, and he uses his length to snag rebounds and alter shots in the paint.
He played for Spain’s U20 junior national team as recently as 2024 in the U20 European Championship.
The Gamecocks are coming off a 13-19 season, and their roster is going through a serious overhaul. Twelve players departed because of graduation or transfers.