After another disappointing season, South Carolina basketball has already suffered some transfer portal attrition.
The Gamecocks have seen three players opt to move on to new programs in 2026-27, and on Monday, they suffered a major loss in rotational freshman guard Eli Ellis. Though he didn’t start any games this season, Ellis averaged 26.8 minutes per game and averaged 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and two assists.
The former four-star recruit in the 2025 class was a two-time Overtime Elite MVP.
Ellis joins reserve big man Jordan Butler in the transfer portal, as well as forward Elijah Strong, an offseason addition from Boston College who started 18 games for the Gamecocks this past season.
NEWS: South Carolina guard Eli Ellis plans to enter the @TransferPortal, he told @On3.
The 6-0 freshman averaged 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game this season. Former back-to-back OTE MVP. https://t.co/HxGAWCJULJpic.twitter.com/z2rLXOFo3t
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) March 23, 2026
Paris was retained for a fifth season despite his South Carolina program being just 25-39 over the last two seasons, including a combined 6-30 mark in SEC play. However, he will have his hands full with another roster rebuild ahead of what should be a pivotal campaign in Columbia.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: South Carolina basketball loses freshman Eli Ellis to transfer portal