What’s next for South Carolina out of the transfer portal
Portal season never truly ends, and South Carolina is in the midst of putting together the finishing touches of its roster for 2024.
The Gamecocks landed a commitment on Friday, but what’s next for South Carolina in the final full month before the semester starts and guys begin arriving on campus?
For starters, South Carolina is getting close to done with the offensive side of the portal class with five commitments already and a potential sixth looming in Clemson’s Billy Amick.
The Gamecocks have Austin Brinling (North Florida), Kennedy Jones (UNC-G), Dalton Reeves (Presbyterian), Blake Jackson (Charlotte) and the most recent in Vanderbilt’s Parker Noland.
That group helps the Gamecocks rebuild their outfield in Brinling, Jones and Jackson. And it gives South Carolina a versatile infielder like Noland to come in and give the lineup a veteran bat as well.
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The last big piece for South Carolina is Amick, who is nearing the end of his recruitment process. He’s at the tail end of his visit schedule. A decision could come sooner rather than later once those are over.
The Gamecocks are in the mix there and have a good thing to sell, mentioning he’ll get a serious look at playing third base. He can also get to play in his home state. And he’d work closely with the head coach who recruited him to Clemson (Monte Lee) on staff with the Gamecocks.
South Carolina has been in the thick of it and in the lead group for a while. But Tennessee and Florida are looming and also pushing hard for the right-handed infielder.
Amick is coming off an All-American sophomore season at Clemson. He hit .413/.464/.772 with 13 homers, 63 RBI and a BABIP of .441.
He’d be the cornerstone of the offensive portal class. But the Gamecocks should feel really good about the guys they’ve brought in already with or without Amick.
Noland was one of the last pieces the Gamecocks were recruiting out of the transfer portal offensively.
With him hopping on board this week, South Carolina seems to feel content with the offensive class at the moment while still pushing hard for Amick.
Who stays and who goes via the draft and who enters the portal–either from South Carolina or at other schools–could affect if the Gamecocks show interest in another bat. But the focus now turns to the mound.
South Carolina has a good pitching core set to return next season in Eli Jones, Matthew Becker, Roman Kimball, Austin Williamson and others. Cade Austin and Chris Veach are draft eligible. But both could certainly opt to return and be a big piece to the 2024 pitching staff.
But there is a ton of production to replace with Will Sanders, Noah Hall, Jack Mahoney and James Hicks likely to sign pro deals a week out from the draft.
South Carolina is looking for starter-quality arms and guys who can help fortify a bullpen that was quality last season.
Charleston’s Ty Good–the reigning CAA Pitcher of the Year–can fill whatever role South Carolina needs next season. Tyler Dean (Virginia Tech) and Garrett Gainey (Liberty) are wildcards. But both can come in and give the Gamecocks two more bullpen arms.
But South Carolina is setting sights high on landing a few key arms out of the portal for next season. That’s the focus right now as the calendar flips to July and there are six weeks before the fall semester starts.
Two guys could be close to a decision in Central Connecticut State’s Dominic Niman and Mercer’s Josh Harlow.
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Both visited campus last week and have either wrapped up or are wrapping up visits before the July 3 dead period. That dead period will run from July 3 through July 5.
Georgia is South Carolina’s primary competition for Niman while Harlow also has interest from Arkansas and ECU. Harlow was on campus at Arkansas over the weekend.
Niman is coming off a season where he was the NEC pitcher of the year. The lefty had a 2.77 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 104 innings. He struck out 94 to 26 walks. Harlow battled injuries in 2023 but finished with a 2.08 ERA in just over 17 innings with a .194 OBA.
After missing nearly two months, Harlow made two relief appearances against Samford (May 20) and UNC-G (May 26). He threw 3.2 innings, giving up three hits and a run. He struck out six to no walks.
South Carolina’s trying to get Coastal Carolina’s Liam Doyle and Miami’s Karson Ligon on campus for visits also. Doyle started and came out of the pen for the Chants with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.
Ligon was banged up at times in 2023. But when healthy he was a weekend arm and finished with a 4.83 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.
The Gamecocks aren’t close to finished in the portal. But the focus now is shifting to the mound and fortifying that pitching staff.
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