College basketball is back, and the Gamecocks Women’s Basketball team begins the year as the No. 1 team in the country as Dawn Staley’s squad is shooting to bring home another championship trophy.
As for the Gamecocks men’s team, it’s a season of fresh starts under new head coach Lamont Paris and a team built with five transfers + six returning players from last year’s squad. The incoming freshman class is anchored by local star GG Jackson, who ranked as 247Sports’ No. 6 player in the country in the 2022 class.
With both Gamecock teams opening the season next week, we’ve got you covered for the Gamecock’s notable highlights for the upcoming season.
🏀 Gamecock Women’s Basketball
- The team opens their season on Mon., Nov. 7 at 8:30 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena against East Tennessee State. Tickets are available here.
- The return of Raven “Hollywood” Johnson. Raven was the No. 1 ranked point guard in the nation in the 2021 class but suffered a season-ending injury early last year.
- Loaded with talent. Head coach Dawn Staley returns 10 players from last year’s championship squad, including four of the five starters.
- Reigning National Player of the Year, Aliyah Boston, is back for another season after a record-setting junior campaign.
🏀 Gamecock Men’s Basketball
- The team opens their season on Tue., Nov. 8 at 7:00 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena against South Carolina State. Tickets are available here.
- Local talent. This team includes six players from South Carolina and two from just over the border in Charlotte, NC.
- The game against Upstate rival Clemson is the second game of the year while school is in session. This game typically takes place over winter break.
- New head coach Lamont Paris is joined by local + Gamecock legend Carey Rich, who will assist the team as a special assistant.
Interested in catching a game this year? The Gamecock Go Pass — a $20 a month subscription mobile ticket plan — offers access to home games for men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball.
