The latest South Carolina Gamecocks news from the last week, starting with some updates from the world of football recruiting
The Gamecocks had a busy week of recruiting, especially over the weekend.
South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer teased out four different commitments, but just one of those went public.
Blackville-Hilda High School standout Jaquel Holman, a big-time athlete who plays running back, defensive back, and linebacker, pledged his services to USC.
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Earlier in the week, Damola Ajidahun announced his top-8 schools, and South Carolina was on the list. The 4-star offensive lineman is from the state of Georgia.
5-star in-state wide receiver Malik Clark has put USC in his top-5.
August 7th will be commitment day for 4-star safety Lagonza Hayward. Officially, he has 7 finalists (the Gamecocks are one), but Carolina has been named a “top-3” and “top-4” team by Hayward recently.
4-star offensive lineman Dontrell Glover will commit on July 1st. He set his decision date immediately following a visit to Columbia. The Gamecocks are a finalist.
Instead of sticking with his previously scheduled July decision date, 5-star EDGE Zayden Walker elected to commit early, and the Georgia native picked the Georgia Bulldogs.
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Gamecock dual-sport athlete Nyck Harbor received a huge honor.
The wide receiver for South Carolina football and sprinter for South Carolina track and field was named a Second Team All-American in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints after his showing at the NCAA Championships.
A former Gamecock head coach is on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot.
For the second year in a row, Jim Carlen (1975-1981) is up for induction into the CFBHOF. He also coached at West Virginia and Texas Tech.
Lamont Paris’ South Carolina basketball team has finalized its 2024-2025 roster.
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Former walk-on Austin Herro (rising redshirt freshman) is now on scholarship. The combo guard is the 13th and final scholarship player for the Gamecocks’ roster next season.
The Gamecocks also set their season opener.
After recently announcing a game in the non-conference schedule against North Florida, more details came out about the matchup, most notably that it would be the team’s season opener on November 4th.
Dawn Staley’s women’s team made some recruiting news.
The Gamecocks made the top list for 5-star prospect Jazzy Davidson in the class of 2025. Davidson released a top-5, and South Carolina basketball made the cut.
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Future Gamecock Joyce Edwards won another big-time award.
The gem of the 2024 recruiting class was named MaxPreps High School Female Athlete of the Year.
After another disappointing year, Mark Kingston is out as the leader of Gamecock baseball.
Kingston was fired on Monday, and an extensive coaching search is underway. Some notable candidates include Monte Lee (assistant coach, South Carolina), Tom Walter (head coach, Wake Forest), Cliff Godwin (head coach, East Carolina), Chris Pollard (head coach, Duke), and Dan McDonnell (head coach, Louisville.
A long-time South Carolina baseball pledge is no longer part of the Gamecocks’ 2025 recruiting class.
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In-state pitcher Teddy Garner decommitted over the weekend.
Despite being in the middle of a coaching search, the Gamecocks have landed some new commitments.
Class of 2025 pitcher Luke Roupe (a former Vanderbilt commit) is now committed to the South Carolina baseball program.
Transfer portal hurler Caleb Jones (Winthrop Eagles) also pledged to Carolina this week.
A handful of Gamecocks have left the program via the transfer portal.
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Infielders Tristan Salinas, Carson Hornung, and Tyler Zedalis all intend to transfer from the Gamecocks. Salinas and Zedalis were freshmen, while Hornung has just one year of eligibility remaining.
After 14 seasons, South Carolina softball coach Bev Smith has been fired.
Smith had a woeful SEC record during her time in Columbia, and USC made it out of Regional play in the NCAA Tournament just once while she was head coach.
Next. South Carolina Gamecocks: After 14 years, USC makes a coaching change. South Carolina Gamecocks: After 14 years, USC makes a coaching change. dark
UCLA’s win over No. 1 ranked South Carolina wasn’t a fluke, and Bruins center Lauren Betts says if you haven’t been paying attention, now would be the time to.
Let’s say the thing. It was not close on Sunday. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, UCLA commanded the floor and had an answer for everything the Gamecocks tried to do. The Bruins beat South Carolina on the boards (41-34), held four starters to under five points, and *checks notes* not a single starter went to the free-throw line. UGLY STUFF.
Furthermore, five UCLA players scored in double figures, including Londynn Jones, who was sensational from the line with five 3-pointers, and star center Lauren Betts, who had 11 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and four blocks. WHEW. Postgame, Betts raved about her team and how proud she was, but she also sent a direct warning to college basketball. “If you’ve been sleeping on UCLA,” Betts said. “You need to stop right now.”
Clemson football looks to win its second straight Palmetto Bowl.
The No. 12 Tigers (9-2) faces in-state rival No. 14 South Carolina (8-3) on Saturday (noon ET, ESPN) at Memorial Stadium. This will be the 121st meeting between these two programs and one of the highest-ranked rivalry games in Week 14.
There are still tickets available for Clemson’s last game in Death Valley in the regular season. Here are the best prices for remaining seats.
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See Clemson ticket prices for every game this season
Clemson tickets vs South Carolina
Ticket prices for Clemson’s final home game against South Carolina on Saturday start at $175 on StubHub and at $167 on VividSeats. Prices in the lower bowl range from $224 to over $1000 on both sites.
To see a full list of ticket prices, visit StubHub or VividSeats.
MORE: Why Clemson showcases patriotism before football games at Memorial Stadium
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Clemson football schedule 2024
Aug. 31: Georgia 34, Clemson 3
Sept. 7: Clemson 66, Appalachian State 20
Sept. 21: Clemson 59, NC State 35
Sept. 28: Clemson 40, Stanford 14
Oct. 5: Clemson 29, Florida State 13
Oct. 12: Clemson 49, Wake Forest 14
Oct. 19: Clemson 48, Virginia 31
Nov. 2: Louisville 33, Clemson 21
Nov. 9: Clemson 24, Virginia Tech 14
Nov. 16: Clemson 24, Pitt 20
Nov. 23: Clemson 51, The Citadel 14
Nov. 30: vs. No. 14 South Carolina, noon ET (ESPN)
South Carolina football 2024 schedule
Aug. 31: South Carolina 23, Old Dominion 19
Sept. 7: South Carolina 31, Kentucky 6
Sept. 14: LSU 36, South Carolina 33
Sept. 21: South Carolina 50, Akron 7
Oct. 5: Ole Miss 27, South Carolina 3
Oct. 12: Alabama 27, South Carolina 25
Oct. 19: South Carolina 35, Oklahoma 9
Nov. 2: South Carolina 44, Texas A&M 20
Nov. 9: South Carolina 28, Vanderbilt 7
Nov. 16: South Carolina 34, Missouri 30
Nov. 23: South Carolina 56, Wofford 12
Nov. 30: at No. 12 Clemson, noon ET (ESPN)
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The UCLA women’s basketball put the country on notice, defeating the #1 South Carolina Gamecocks 77-62 at home on Sunday.
The sold out crowd at Pauley Pavilion was engaged all night, with UCLA never trailing in the win, a signature victory for Cori Close’s program. South Carolina entered Sunday’s game winners of 43 in a row, including an undefeated season last year that ended with a national title.
UCLA took a 43-22 lead into halftime, taking an early first quarter lead and never looking back. UCLA didn’t allow a South Carolina basket in the game’s first five minutes, holding the Gamecocks for the first half of the first quarter. A three by junior guard Londynn Jones gave the Bruins a 15-2 lead with 2:36 to play in the opening quarter.
Junior guard Kiki Rice was a full-go for UCLA for the first time all season, with Rice scoring 11 points on 5-11 shooting in 28 minutes. It was a modest scoring night for junior center Lauren Betts, finishing with 11 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks while playing 37 minutes. Jones led the Bruins with 15 points, as UCLA had five players with double figures.
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South Carolina shot the three ball well, going 8-12 from deep but just 29.6% on two point shots. The Gamecocks would win the second half 40-34 but after the dominant first half by the Bruins, it was too late.
The #5 Bruins are due to climb in the rankings after doing what no other women’s college basketball team has done since April of 2023, beat the South Carolina Gamecocks.
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