Author: footballtopstar

As the college basketball season nears its peak, NBA scouts are turning their attention to top draft prospects—especially those on teams that may not make the NCAA Tournament. One name on their radar is Collin Murray-Boyles, a standout for the struggling South Carolina Gamecocks.

Despite South Carolina’s winless record in SEC play through 13 games, Murray-Boyles’ performance remains impressive. Sam Vecenie from The Athletic recently gave him high marks, particularly for his defensive prowess and basketball IQ.

“Just an unbelievable defensive playmaker,” Vecenie remarked. “Unbelievable defender. Processes the game at such a high level, it’s obscene. Shooting 57% from the field this season. I don’t really buy him shooting threes yet. I don’t know that that’s going to be a thing, but maybe it gets there.”

While Murray-Boyles’ defensive skills shine, his three-point shooting has been a weak spot. He’s hitting just 28% from beyond the arc, though his attempts are minimal, with only one per game on average. His highest total this season came in a game against Virginia Tech with three attempts. NBA teams will be watching closely to see if he can develop this aspect of his game moving forward.

Despite the three-point struggles, Murray-Boyles is still contributing significantly. He’s averaging nearly 16 points and 9 rebounds per game, with his defensive metrics also standing out. Vecenie highlights his advanced defensive stats as some of the best in the class.

With just five games left in the regular season, and the SEC Tournament looming, it looks unlikely that South Carolina will make a deep run unless they have a Cinderella moment. If the Gamecocks’ season ends without a major postseason push, Murray-Boyles will transition to the NBA.

In the latest mock draft from On3’s James Fletcher, Murray-Boyles is projected to be selected No. 17 overall by the Dallas Mavericks, just outside the lottery. He’s slightly behind a couple of international players from France.

However, there’s still time for Murray-Boyles to improve, and Vecenie believes NBA teams will be drawn to his defensive tenacity and efficiency around the rim. The talented South Carolina forward looks set to make the jump to the NBA, with his second college season winding down.

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“I’m a big fan of the Gamecocks”: RB Jayrean Campbell discusses his interest in South Carolina

Jayreon Campbell, a 2026 running back from McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, has recently expressed strong interest in the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 190 pounds, Campbell has garnered attention from several prominent programs, including Ole Miss, Georgia, Auburn, Michigan, Alabama, and Texas A&M. Notably, he holds an offer from South Carolina, reflecting the Gamecocks’ interest in his talents.

Campbell’s recruitment is highly competitive, with multiple schools vying for his commitment. His recent official visit to North Carolina has intensified the race, making it a closely contested battle between the Tar Heels and the Gamecocks. His father mentioned that Campbell is still evaluating his options, indicating that a decision has not yet been made.

The Gamecocks’ coaching staff, including running backs coach Montario Hardesty, is actively involved in Campbell’s recruitment. Their efforts to engage with Campbell underscore their commitment to strengthening the running back position for the upcoming seasons.

As Campbell continues to explore his options, the University of South Carolina remains a strong contender in his recruitment process. The outcome of his decision will be closely watched by fans and analysts, as it has the potential to significantly impact the Gamecocks’ future offensive strategies.

In a game that everyone expected, South Carolina women’s basketball crushed SEC bottom-dweller Arkansas 95-55, offering a much-needed break after their heavy defeat to UConn. The win was a contrast to the high-stakes games they’ve faced recently—Arkansas’ lackluster performance didn’t match the intensity of their previous matchups, making the game feel more like a scrimmage.

Head coach Dawn Staley had emphasized the importance of regaining their identity, something the team had struggled with in their losses. “A common theme is we just didn’t play a resemblance of who we are,” Staley reflected. “In the losses, the common theme has been — whether people forced us to play that way or it was self-inflicted — it really just wasn’t us, and we have to get back to us.”

Defensively, South Carolina certainly looked more like their usual selves. The Gamecocks effectively shut down Arkansas’ leading scorer, Izzy Higgenbottom, limiting her to just 10 points on 17 attempts. The defensive strategy, including tight perimeter coverage and strong help defense, particularly from MiLaysia Fulwiley, proved to be too much for Higgenbottom. Post-game, Arkansas head coach Mike Neighbors credited Fulwiley for her performance, calling her the main reason his star player struggled. “That’s a compliment,” Fulwiley said. “I take pride in my defense and I work really hard on it. Just for him to say that means that people see it and see that I’m really trying and putting effort in.”

Offensively, the Gamecocks were always going to dominate. Arkansas, ranking dead last in SEC scoring defense, presented little challenge in that regard. But the game did provide moments of individual brilliance. Bree Hall set a season-high with three-pointers, Tessa Johnson hit back-to-back threes after struggling in recent games, and even Maryam Dauda made an impact, contributing nine points and eight rebounds against her former team. Staley was particularly impressed with Dauda, noting, “I thought she looked more relaxed than at any time during the season.”

Despite their immense talent, the Gamecocks appeared to benefit from a confidence boost in this game. The players who had struggled with their shots saw them fall, and Fulwiley displayed her signature moves around the basket, moves that Joyce Edwards called ‘mind-blowing.’ This game, while one of the easier contests of the season, gave South Carolina some much-needed momentum heading into a tough stretch.

“I thought we were more like ourselves when it came to just the toughness piece of it,” Staley said. “The extra effort on the board, the loose balls, I thought we wanted to win all of them. There weren’t any that we allowed to just happen without some resistance.”

While this victory will likely be forgotten in the grand scheme of things, especially with a challenging road trip ahead, it still offered a glimpse of what the Gamecocks are capable of when they’re firing on all cylinders. With starters getting some rest in the fourth quarter, it was a game that allowed South Carolina to recalibrate ahead of a tough road stretch.

“I was very confident compared to how confident I’ve been in the past,” Fulwiley said. “A lot of layups were falling for me, and I was just excited. It made me feel good about taking more layups, and my teammates pushed me through and gave me that confidence and that boost I needed.”

On a night when the outcome was never in doubt, the Gamecocks found success in staying calm, relaxed, and confident. It may not have been the most memorable game, but it was a step in the right direction.

South Carolina’s season has taken a surprising turn as they’ve now dropped three games and fallen in the rankings. The big question remains: how will they respond to this adversity?

The loss to UConn last weekend wasn’t necessarily unexpected—after all, the Huskies are a solid team capable of beating anyone. UConn has had a few hiccups this season, but they’ve still proven themselves to be a force. What truly shocked fans was the manner in which they defeated South Carolina. UConn ran away with an 87-58 victory, marking the lowest point total and highest points allowed by South Carolina this season. It was the first time in over a year that the Gamecocks scored fewer than 60 points in a game—since January 2023 against Mississippi State—and it was the most points they’ve allowed since January 2021 against Arkansas.

The key difference here, though, was that in previous losses where one aspect of their game faltered, South Carolina managed to find a way to pull through. Against UConn, both offense and defense were simply off.

Let’s dive deeper into some of the key takeaways from the Gamecocks’ loss on Sunday.

End of the Home Win Streak

Before facing UConn, South Carolina boasted an impressive 71-game home win streak. The last time they lost at home was December 3, 2020, against NC State, in a game where they struggled offensively, scoring only 46 points. Even though they couldn’t buy a bucket that night, the defense kept them in the game, limiting NC State to 54 points. But that loss was a turning point; the Gamecocks went on to win 12 straight games, starting their dominant home stretch. The streak culminated on February 13 with a commanding 38-point win over Florida, following a close loss to Texas.

While the end of the home streak is a notable setback, this loss doesn’t have major long-term consequences for South Carolina. Since it wasn’t a conference loss, it won’t affect their SEC standing, and the Gamecocks are still in control of their path to securing a top seed for the NCAA Tournament—winning out in the regular season and clinching the SEC Tournament title will likely guarantee them a spot in the top seeds.

South Carolina Drops Out of the Top 5

After the UConn loss, South Carolina fell to No. 6 in the AP poll—marking the first time this season they’ve been outside of the top five. In fact, this is the first time since the preseason poll of 2023-24 that the Gamecocks haven’t been ranked in the top five. Their fall to No. 6 is a bit of a rarity in recent seasons, with their last drop outside of the top five coming before the 2020-21 NCAA Tournament when they were also ranked No. 6. It’s an unfamiliar position for a program that’s been at the top for quite a while.

Title Odds Take a Hit

While South Carolina may not have been the No. 1 ranked team going into the UConn matchup, they were still considered the favorites to win it all. Their mix of experience and strong coaching made them the team to beat. However, after the loss to UConn, the Gamecocks’ title odds have taken a hit. At BetMGM, their odds have dropped to +325, putting them in second place behind UConn, now the favorites at +200.

Following the Gamecocks, UCLA, Notre Dame, and USC round out the top five teams in betting odds. Texas, which defeated South Carolina two weeks ago, sits in sixth, followed by LSU, Tennessee, Duke, and Ohio State.

Do these shifts in odds matter? It’s too early to say. The race for the title this season is wide open, and with the top teams all having had stumbles, it’s clear that anything can happen. UConn might have looked dominant against South Carolina, but they’ve suffered losses to teams like Notre Dame, USC, and Tennessee, so it’s not as straightforward as the odds might suggest.

South Carolina is hoping to break its 12-game losing streak as it heads to Baton Rouge for a late tip-off against LSU.

The Gamecocks (10-15, 0-12 SEC) will face off with the LSU Tigers (13-12, 2-10 SEC) at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC) tonight, with tip-off scheduled for 9 p.m. on SEC Network. Let’s dive into some key things to keep an eye on in this matchup, as well as the latest updates on both teams.

Key to Avoiding Another Blowout: The Big Run South Carolina has struggled throughout this season with one common theme: the inability to recover from large runs by their opponents. This was painfully evident in their most recent loss to Florida, where they only trailed by four points at halftime. But as has happened too often, the second half told a different story. A 27-9 run by the Gators out of the break led to a 20-point deficit for the Gamecocks, and they couldn’t claw back, falling by double digits. This marked the fifth time in SEC play that South Carolina has suffered a blowout loss.

If they want any chance at winning tonight, they must avoid letting LSU dominate the second half. Should the game be close at the break, South Carolina needs to take control early in the second half—scoring efficiently and playing solid defense. Otherwise, it could be another long night for the Gamecocks.

An Unexpected Twist in LSU’s Performance Initially, this game seemed like one of South Carolina’s more winnable matchups. However, LSU comes into this game on the heels of a surprising road victory over Oklahoma. With a 2-10 SEC record, the Tigers now sit two games ahead of the Gamecocks at the bottom of the standings, but the win gives them momentum going into this contest.

South Carolina has struggled on the road this season, posting a 1-7 record away from Colonial Life Arena. Their lone road victory came back in early December at Boston College, and they’ve only had one SEC road game that came down to the wire, a narrow three-point loss to Vanderbilt. Other than that, their road losses have all been by double digits. For the Gamecocks to pull off an upset tonight, they’ll need to defy the odds—winning on the road in the SEC is no easy feat.

CMB Needs to Be More Aggressive South Carolina’s sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles has been a solid playmaker for the Gamecocks, but his recent performance against Florida raised some concerns. Murray-Boyles only took eight shots, finishing with 12 points on 3-of-8 shooting. He also grabbed just two rebounds. While his unselfishness is valuable, South Carolina will be better off if he takes more shots—ideally 15 or more. The Gamecocks are relying on him to step up and lead the offense if they’re going to have any shot at breaking their losing streak.

Opponent Scouting Report: LSU For a deeper look at the LSU Tigers, you can check out our full scouting report here. LSU, though struggling in conference play, has proven they can still compete, as seen in their win over Oklahoma. With Daimion Collins, Corey Chest, and Derek Fountain all listed as probable for tonight’s game, the Tigers will be a tough challenge for South Carolina, who has been shorthanded all season.

Injury Report For South Carolina: Myles Stute is OUT due to a blood clot.

For LSU: Trey’Dez Green and Jalen Reed are OUT, while Daimion Collins, Corey Chest, and Derek Fountain are all listed as PROBABLE.

Game Details

• Who: South Carolina (10-15, 0-12 SEC) vs. LSU (13-12, 2-10 SEC)
• When: Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 9 p.m.
• Where: Pete Maravich Assembly Center (13,215 capacity)
• How to Watch/Listen: SEC Network and 107.5 The Game

ESPN gives South Carolina just a 30.5% chance to win, but the Gamecocks will be hoping to defy those odds tonight in Baton Rouge.

Stay tuned for live updates, and let’s see if South Carolina can snap their streak!

Live from the Gamecocks’ weekend rollercoaster, here’s my breakdown of the standout players, burning questions, and my favorite moment.

Three Clutch Players

Joyce Edwards
Against Florida: 19 minutes, 28 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Against UConn: 28 minutes, 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks

Edwards had a career-high 28 points against Florida and was pivotal for the Gamecocks against UConn, leading the team in scoring and tying for the lead in rebounds. It’s clear: Joyce Edwards is South Carolina’s top performer as they head into the final stretch of the season.

Te-Hina Paopao
Against Florida: 20 minutes, 14 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists
Against UConn: 29 minutes, 10 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists

Paopao set the tone early in the Florida game, delivering one of her best performances as a Gamecock. While she struggled with her shot against UConn, her involvement, especially in the first half, kept her engaged on the court.

Champ Staley
As Dawn Staley fondly referred to him, “My emotional support dog.” After the loss to UConn, Staley and Champ walked into the postgame interview together, with associate head dog mom, Lisa Boyer, later taking Champ behind Colonial Life Arena. You have to imagine that some tough conversations were had, and a little support from a pup never hurt.

Two Burning Questions

1. What happened?
Coming off a dominant win against Florida, everything seemed to align perfectly for the Gamecocks heading into the UConn game. The crowd was pumped, and even though UConn initially took the lead, South Carolina was still getting good looks. But then… it all fell apart. Feagin got hit in the face early, and MiLaysia Fulwiley quickly picked up two fouls, throwing off the rotation. But despite these setbacks, it was a complete breakdown for the team, and the reasons behind it remain unclear. We’ll have to see if they can figure it out internally and turn things around.

2. Can they bounce back?
Can the Gamecocks regain their form? Absolutely. But will they? That’s still uncertain. I’m cautiously optimistic. The UConn game was such an outlier that I don’t think it should define the team’s season. But still, it’s concerning to see them falter in such a high-stakes game, especially given their history of performing best in the biggest moments. The question now is whether they can rediscover that competitive edge.

One Favorite Play

There weren’t many bright spots against UConn, but one play that stood out was MiLaysia Fulwiley’s incredible block. With Sarah Strong seemingly on her way to an easy layup, Fulwiley came from the help side and swatted the ball away, denying the 6-2 Strong a chance at scoring. It was an amazing display of defensive timing.

The South Carolina Gamecocks are gearing up for the 2025 College Football season, and the excitement surrounding the team is palpable. With the release of the latest Way-Too-Early Top-25 rankings, the Gamecocks find themselves ranked as a Top-10 program, setting the stage for a highly anticipated year.

In 2024, the Gamecocks wrapped up a solid regular season with a 9-3 record, though their postseason ended on a disappointing note with a loss to Illinois, concluding their year at 9-4. Despite the bowl setback, there are plenty of bright spots from the 2024 season. Much of the optimism for the upcoming season is tied to the return of LaNorris Sellers, the team’s starting quarterback. Additionally, Head Coach Shane Beamer recently signed an extension and received a raise, providing much-needed stability for the program moving forward.

That stability, combined with the promise of an exciting season ahead, has positioned the Gamecocks prominently in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top-25 rankings, where they’re seen as a Top-10 contender.

Here’s what ESPN had to say about the Gamecocks:

“As always, South Carolina’s annual showdown with in-state rival Clemson will serve as the key measure for the success of their season. But to surpass last season’s 9-4 record, the Gamecocks will likely need to secure a win in their season opener on Aug. 31 against Virginia Tech in Atlanta, and dominate at home in their seven scheduled games. However, their four SEC road matchups won’t be a walk in the park: Missouri on Sept. 20, LSU on Oct. 11, Ole Miss on Nov. 1, and Texas A&M on Nov. 15. Perhaps the toughest test of the season will be a home game against Alabama on Oct. 25.”

With the excitement of a new season on the horizon, the Gamecocks are set for another challenging and potentially rewarding campaign.

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Brady Hunt Rejoins Garnet Trust, confirming his return to South Carolina Football

In a significant development for South Carolina football, Brady Hunt, a 6-foot-5, 253-pound tight end, has signed a new NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deal with the Gamecocks’ official collective, The Garnet Trust, ensuring his return to the program for the upcoming season.

Hunt, who transferred to South Carolina from Ball State last offseason, was part of the Gamecocks’ three-man tight end rotation in 2024 alongside Joshua Simon and Michael Smith. He made valuable contributions during the season, recording two receptions for 22 yards, including a key first-down grab late in the victory over Missouri. Known for his versatility both as a blocker and a receiver, Hunt is expected to take on an even larger role next season, especially with Simon having exhausted his eligibility.

Before joining South Carolina, Hunt had an impressive 2022 season at Ball State, where he caught 46 passes for 498 yards and five touchdowns. His strong performance at Ball State and subsequent transfer to the Gamecocks highlight his potential to become a key player in South Carolina’s offensive game plan.

This new NIL deal underscores the Gamecocks’ commitment to player retention, with The Garnet Trust playing a crucial role in securing such agreements. Retaining players like Hunt is essential for the program’s continued success, and head coach Shane Beamer has stressed the importance of building strong relationships and maintaining open communication to keep the team unified and motivated.

South Carolina Football Recruiting Target Tamarion Watkins Boosted to 4-Star Status

We’re closely following South Carolina’s pursuit of Tamarion Watkins, one of the top football recruits in the Palmetto State. The Northwestern High School standout is a physical force on the field, standing at an imposing 6’4″ and weighing 201 pounds. His combination of size and athleticism has caught the attention of major programs, including Georgia, who have shown interest in potentially using him as a linebacker. However, USC defensive backs coach Torrian Gray sees him more as a versatile, long safety for the Gamecocks’ secondary. On3, along with other major recruiting outlets, currently ranks him as a safety.

Recent updates to the 2026 rankings have propelled Watkins to a prestigious position. He now holds a fourth-star ranking in the On3 industry composite rankings—a weighted average from On3, 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals. This jump comes after On3, 247Sports, and Rivals all updated their rankings in recent weeks. Watkins is now placed at No. 312 nationally, No. 7 in South Carolina, and No. 26 among safeties nationwide. Rivals is especially high on Watkins, ranking him as the No. 125 player in the nation and the top recruit in South Carolina.

Notably, GamecockCentral’s Chris Clark recently included Watkins on a list of prospects who could soon earn South Carolina’s On3 RPM picks. Clark reports that despite a competitive offer list, South Carolina has positioned itself well in Watkins’ recruitment.

As of now, the Gamecocks have five commitments in the 2026 class, currently ranked 14th overall. This group includes 4-star safety J’Zavien Currence, 4-star tight end Jamel Howse, 4-star linebacker/EDGE Keenan Britt, 3-star defensive back Peyton Dyer, and 3-star offensive lineman Anthony Baxter. Interestingly, both Currence and Baxter are from Rock Hill, just like Watkins.

Stay tuned for more updates on this rising prospect and South Carolina’s recruiting efforts.

More news…..

Brady Hunt Rejoins Garnet Trust, confirming his return to South Carolina Football

In a significant development for South Carolina football, Brady Hunt, a 6-foot-5, 253-pound tight end, has signed a new NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deal with the Gamecocks’ official collective, The Garnet Trust, ensuring his return to the program for the upcoming season.

Hunt, who transferred to South Carolina from Ball State last offseason, was part of the Gamecocks’ three-man tight end rotation in 2024 alongside Joshua Simon and Michael Smith. He made valuable contributions during the season, recording two receptions for 22 yards, including a key first-down grab late in the victory over Missouri. Known for his versatility both as a blocker and a receiver, Hunt is expected to take on an even larger role next season, especially with Simon having exhausted his eligibility.

Before joining South Carolina, Hunt had an impressive 2022 season at Ball State, where he caught 46 passes for 498 yards and five touchdowns. His strong performance at Ball State and subsequent transfer to the Gamecocks highlight his potential to become a key player in South Carolina’s offensive game plan.

This new NIL deal underscores the Gamecocks’ commitment to player retention, with The Garnet Trust playing a crucial role in securing such agreements. Retaining players like Hunt is essential for the program’s continued success, and head coach Shane Beamer has stressed the importance of building strong relationships and maintaining open communication to keep the team unified and motivated.