Just hours after South Carolina’s Eli Ellis and Jordan Butler revealed they would enter the transfer portal on April 7, another Gamecock has decided to follow suit.
Freshman forward EJ Walker, a former 4-star recruit from Florence, Kentucky, will also put his name in the portal. Walker appeared in 22 games this season and started six near the end of the campaign.
Walker’s decision to transfer isn’t exactly shocking. While he showed some efficiency around the basket, he struggled to adjust to SEC-level competition.
In three of his six starts, he failed to score a single point and never reached double digits, despite averaging roughly 20 minutes per game.
He also struggled defensively, often fouling, and shot just 47% from the free throw line. Because of this, he is expected to land at a mid- or low-major program to gain experience and develop his game.
Walker becomes the third South Carolina player this offseason to enter the transfer portal. With Lamont Paris remaining for at least one more season, he will face the challenge of reshaping the roster quickly.
Considering his win-now approach, the departures of Walker, Ellis, and Butler are understandable.
