After weeks of searching for a potential starting point guard out of the transfer portal, Lamont Paris and South Carolina’s men’s basketball program have found their guy, as Norfolk State transfer and VCU Commit Jamarii Thomas flipped his commitment to the Gamecocks on Sunday afternoon, as first reported by On3 Sports’ Senior National Recruiting Analyst Jamie Shaw. Thomas was the MEAC Player of the Year in the 2023-24 season and also earned Newcomer of the Year since he transferred in from UNC-Wilmington, along with First-team All-MEAC and MEAC All-Defensive Team honors.

In his one season in Norfolk, Jamarii averaged 16.9 points on 40.4 percent shooting from the floor, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, the latter of which ranked 36th nationally. Thomas joins a transfer class for Carolina that consists of Missouri transfer Jordan Butler and Alabama transfer Nick Pringle and makes it five total newcomers heading into next season when you include four-star high school signees Cam Scott and Okku Federiko.

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Four-Time South Carolina State Champion Matt Fortson Sends Verbal to Army

NEW COMMIT: Futures qualifier Matt Fortson out of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, has verbally committed to Army West Point beginning in Fall 2025.

He will join Lewis Esterly as a member of the Black Knights’ Class of 2029.

Regarding his commitment, he said:

I’m blessed to announce my commitment to swim at the United States Military Academy. This has been a lifelong dream and I can’t wait to join my brother and father in the Long Grey Line. I would like to thank my family, coaches, friends, and the entire Army coaching staff for supporting and believing in me. Go Army! Beat Navy!

Primarily a backstroker and butterflyer, Fortson does his club swimming with Wahoo Aquatic Club and had five top-10 finishes at South Carolina Short Course Seniors back in February. Last summer, he took fifth in the 200m back at South Carolina Long Course Seniors before going on to compete at San Antonio Futures.

His best times include:

• 100 back – 51.11
• 200 back – 1:50.87
• 100 fly – 48.85
• 200 fly – 1:53.88

Currently a junior at Porter Gaud School, Fortson won the 100 fly and 200 free at the South Carolina Independent Schools State Championships last fall. He earned gold in the 100 fly and 100 back during his sophomore season after securing runner-up finishes in those events as a freshman.

Under head coach Brandt Nigro, the Black Knights finished second in the team standings at the 2024 Patriot League Championships.

If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.

The Missouri baseball team evened its series with the No. 15 South Carolina Gamecocks 8-3 on Saturday afternoon. 

The Tigers came out swinging and scored four runs in the first inning on three RBI singles by Trevor Austin, Mateo Serna, and Drew Culbertston. The team also plated a run in the third on an RBI single by Culbertson and two runs in the fourth on a two-RBI triple by Jackson Lovich. The Tigers added their final run onto the board in the eighth on an RBI single by Jedier Hernandez. 

The Gamecocks put a pair of runs on the board in the sixth inning on an RBI triple by Cole Messina and an RBI single by Gavin Casas and added an additional run in the seventh with a solo home run by Blake Jackson. 

Pitcher Carter Rustad started on the mound for the Tigers. The senior went 6.2 innings and allowed five hits, three runs (all earned), and struck out six.

Today’s Schedule: 

Tigers Results:

Did You Notice? 

• Former Missouri guard Sean East II was invited to compete in the 2024 NBA G League Elite Camp from May 10-11 alongside 43 draft eligible players. 
• The SEC announced the 2023-24 Brad Davis Community Service Award winners on Thursday from each school in the conference. Football edge Darius Robinson and gymnast Kyra Burns were the two recipients for Missouri. 
• Former Missouri forward Michael Porter Jr., and the Denver Nuggets lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 106-99 in Game 1 of the second round in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Porter played 40 minutes and scored 20 points, six rebounds, one assist, and three steals. 

Countdown to Missouri’s football season opener: 

118 days. 

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