The 2025–26 season is one South Carolina men’s basketball fans will want to put behind them quickly.
Now, the program has taken another hit, as starting forward Elijah Strong—who only joined the Gamecocks a year ago—has entered the transfer portal.
Reports of his decision surfaced Friday afternoon, and not long after, his name appeared on 247Sports’ transfer portal list as an outgoing player.
Given how disappointing the season was, Strong’s departure doesn’t come as a shock. Still, it’s a notable loss. He played an important role offensively, averaging 10 points and 2.3 rebounds in about 17 minutes per game.
Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Strong transferred to South Carolina after spending two seasons at Boston College, arriving as a three-star portal addition.
At the time, assistant coach Carey Rich praised his versatility, highlighting his ability to score in the post, operate from the elbow, and stretch the floor with his three-point shooting—qualities that fit well within head coach LaMont Paris’ system.
After such a tough year in Columbia, it remains to be seen whether more players will follow Strong into the portal.
In Paris’ third season leading the program, South Carolina finished 13–19 overall and managed just four SEC wins, falling short of any postseason appearance.
Despite some speculation about his future, athletic director Jeremiah Donati confirmed earlier this month that Paris will return for the 2026–27 season.
