The South Carolina Gamecocks received good news earlier today with Shane Blakeney's withdrawal from the 2026 NBA draft .
Blakeney, a South Carolina native, transferred from Drexel earlier this offseason. He was the only Gamecock to go through the draft process, earning a workout with the Dallas Mavericks .
Blakeney is a high-energy wing with two-way potential. Blakeney, who has improved each of his three collegiate seasons, is known for his physicality, shot-making, and defensive activity. The athletic 6-5 guard does have to improve his efficiency, decision-making, and rim-finishing ability — he converted less than 50% of his opportunities last season.
Blakeney averaged 14.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals this past season. Blakeney also made two threes a game with shooting splits of 41.6/35.9/67.1. He scored in double-figures 28 times, topping the 20-point mark on four occassions. Additionally, he earned first-team all-CAA honors and CAA all-defensive recognition.
"For Carolina, he projects as an important piece who will get significant minutes, likely as a starter," Kevin Miller of Gamecock Central said about Blakeney's role this upcoming season. "Blakeney will handle most of the top perimeter defensive assignments when on the floor and will be a serviceable scorer. His leaping ability and high motor will also fit in well with Lamont Paris' gang-rebounding philosophy."
South Carolina is coming off a 13-19 campaign last season and a 14th-place finish in the SEC with a 4-14 record. The Gamecocks, who ranked 195th in the nation in offensive efficiency, were dead last in the conference in scoring at 70.6 points per game, even as they were 16th in the conference in field-goal and three-point shooting. The Gamecocks were outscored by 11 points a game.
Last season marked South Carolina's third losing season under the guidance of Lamont Paris. Paris, who enters his fifth campaign in 2026-27, owns a 62-68 record overall — making the NCAA Tournament in 2024. The Gamecocks have made just three NCAA Tournament appearances this century.
South Carolina will have essentially a whole new roster next season. The Gamecocks lost 12 players from last year's squad, including eight transfers. The Gamcecocks currently have 10 players on their roster, with 7 newcomers.
So, the Gamecocks still have some roster work to do. Two of the Gamecocks seven newcomers have experience overseas as professionals — Jakub Necas and Aleksas Bieliauskas . It sounds like Paris could go that route to fill out his roster.
"We're very close to just being done with the vast majority of the pieces that we would predict would be key cogs in what we're doing," Paris said earlier this month . "There are some international guys, even those that are still competing. Those can't be announced until after they're done competing."
South Carolina has reportedly increased its level of financial commitment this year. The Gamecocks spent around $4.5 million last season on their roster, with the majority going to former point guard Meechie Johnson.
"I give a ton of credit, again, to our president and to our board and to our athletic administration for making a commitment that allows us to be competitive," Paris said. "It's part of the reason why these interactions are the way that they are. Numbers are changing or going back. But in some of these situations we were in, it was nice to have the paddle to be able to be the last guy standing with some of these kids."
Photo Credit: Steve Roberts, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
