South Carolina’s roster turnover is ‘crazy.’ So why is Jordan Butler staying?
South Carolina men’s basketball is dealing with a level of roster turnover this offseason that has become the new norm in college hoops. The Gamecocks are losing as many as 12 players from their roster this past season. Of those, eight are leaving via the transfer portal, three are out of eligibility and one is headed to the NBA. That leaves Jordan Butler as the potential lone returner on the roster entering the 2025-26 season this fall. Butler officially announced his plans to return to South Carolina on Monday via X/Twitter. The rising junior from Mauldin said Gamecocks head coach Lamont Paris’ coaching style and staying close to home kept him at South Carolina. “I just like how he coaches,” Butler told reporters at the Gamecock Gala awards banquet Monday. “I like how he handles things. He’s more of a teacher. He’s not really gonna get in your face. He’s gonna help you elevate and teach you through everything. And, you know, close to home, so I couldn’t ask anything different.” If Myles Stute’s attempt at landing a waiver to be eligible next year is successful, then Butler will be one of two returners next year.
The roster turnover is “crazy,” Butler said. “It’s crazy being on the side where you only have two returners, me and Myles,” Butler said. “So just crazy seeing everything going on. But all of the new guys, we’re in the group chat now, and we’re starting to get that chemistry going, so I’m excited.” South Carolina currently has five players inbound to Columbia from the transfer portal. Those newcomers are Christ Essandoko (Providence), Meechie Johnson (Ohio State), Kobe Knox (South Florida), Elijah Strong (Boston College) and Mike Sharavjamts (Utah). The Gamecocks also have high school signees Eli Ellis, Grant Polk, EJ Walker and Hayden Assemian coming in as college freshmen. As for Butler, he said he’s working on a little bit of everything during this offseason.
The 7-foot center averaged 1.8 points and just under a rebound in his first season as a Gamecock. He averaged 7.1 minutes of action across 28 games. “Just working on things that I needed to work on last year,” Butler said. “Lifting weights, getting stronger, working on my speed and agility, things on defense, like that. So just working hard every day.” Butler came to South Carolina after a year at Missouri. During his freshman season with the Tigers he averaged two points per game and just under two rebounds. Butler played in 30 games that season — starting 13 of them — and averaged 11 minutes.
