South Carolina MBB gets commitment from 7-foot Missouri transfer

Jordan Kaye
Jay Biggerstaff/Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Lamont Paris is bringing in reinforcements.

The South Carolina men’s basketball coach landed his first transfer commitment of the offseason on Sunday as Missouri transfer forward Jordan Butler announced on Instagram that he’s going to be suiting up in the garnet and black next season.

“Thank you to the University of Missouri for everything yall have done for me this past year. I’m forever grateful for all of the fans and Mizzou community for taking me in and treating me like family…With that being said I will be commiting to the University of South Carolina,” Butler wrote on his Instagram post. “Thank you Coach Paris for giving me this opportunity and I am very excited to start this next chapter of my basketball career. Go Gamecocks.”

Butler’s announcement comes two days after entering the transfer and caps a big week for Gamecocks. USC landed commitment from Lexington High School guard Cam Scott on Wednesday.

The Gamecocks have two roster spots left after Butler’s commitment. St. Mary’s guard Dakota Leffew will visit the Gamecocks this weekend and has USC in its top schools with Georgia, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Villanova, and Xavier. Wisconsin transfer Connor Essegian visited South Carolina last weekend and committed to Nebraska on Sunday.

Butler, a Greenville native who went to school at Christ Church Episcopal, returns back to his home state and fills an immediate need for the Gamecocks. After losing big men BJ Mack (graduation) and Josh Gray (transfer portal), Butler is a much-needed addition to the front-court.

The 7-foot, 230-pounder was a former four-star prospect who chose the Tigers over South Carolina, Auburn, Alabama and others. Last year at Missouri, the big man played just over 11 minutes a game, averaging two points and two rebounds for a squad that didn’t win an SEC game.

Butler’s announcement will continue on a family tradition — his mother, Casie, played basketball at South Carolina. Butler played for his father John at Christ Church and helped the Cavaliers to a pair of state championships in 2021 and 2023. As a senior, he was Class A Player of Year and averaged 21.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.4 blocks and 1.2 assists.

Butler’s brother, John Jr., plays with the Capital City Go-Go, the G-League affiliate of the Washington Wizards.

South Carolina roster tracker

  • Returners: Jacobi Wright, guard; Myles Stute, guard; Zachary Davis, guard; Collin Murray-Boyles; Austin Herro, guard; Eli Sparkman, guard; Morris Ugusuk, guard; Danny Grajzl, guard; Arden Conyers, guard; Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk, forward

  • Incoming freshmen: Trent Noah, guard; Okku Federiko, forward; Cam Scott, guard

  • Coming via transfer portal: Jordan Butler (Missouri), center

  • Leaving via transfer portal: Meechie Johnson, guard (Ohio State); Ebrima Dibba, guard; Josh Gray, forward

  • Leaving/out of eligibility: Ta’Lon Cooper, guard; BJ Mack, forward; Stephen Clark, forward

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