Cam Scott hasn’t played a minute of basketball yet for South Carolina, but head coach Lamont Paris is already convinced he’s got a star on his hands.
“If Cam Scott isn’t on the All-Freshman team, I’ll work for free next year,” Paris said jokingly in a radio interview on Sept. 25.
Paris later admitted he probably shouldn’t have said that. He doesn’t want to put too much pressure on a player who has yet to debut at the college level.
But his high hopes for the freshman from nearby Lexington are clear.
“I say that more than anything as just a gesture of my confidence in him,” Paris told reporters Monday. “For him, for his family and for the fans to know that I do believe he’s going to have an opportunity to have a really good year this year.”
It’s not hard to see why Paris would be bullish on Scott. The 6-foot-5 guard is the second-highest-ranked recruit in South Carolina men’s basketball history , behind only recent five-star standout GG Jackson.
If Scott makes the SEC’s All-Freshman team, he would be the third-straight hometown recruit under Paris to earn that honor, joining Jackson and current teammate Collin Murray-Boyles — all three who were nationally touted players from the area. Scott starred locally at Lexington High School, where he averaged 22 points per game as a senior.
If nothing else, the track record shows Scott is in position to make an impact this year.
“I believe in Cam, I do,” Paris said. “I believe in his ability, and I believe in his opportunity. And so when those two combine, I just think it sets him up for a great chance to do that (be successful).”
His ability is obvious. Scott is a pure scorer who can put the ball in the basket from anywhere on the court. That scoring prowess is what enticed multiple schools, including South Carolina, to pursue him after winning the state’s Boys Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year in back-to-back years.
He fits in well with Paris’ style of play, as the Gamecocks like to move the ball around on the offensive end. The coach prefers to have multiple offensive engines, and Scott almost seamlessly fits the bill in that regard.
Scott originally signed with Texas before asking for a release from his National Letter of Intent for personal reasons and deciding to play at South Carolina .
The opportunity, now with USC, isn’t as apparent but is starting to shape out as the start of the season approaches. Scott could be in the starting lineup come November. It’s a bit early to tell, but he’s expected to be in the running at least.
Whatever the case, he’ll be one of the key contributors for the Gamecocks as they look to follow up on their 26-win campaign and NCAA Tournament appearance last year.
Before his official debut, Scott will get his first taste of college action later this month in a private scrimmage against N.C. State, followed by a yet-to-be-signed public scrimmage with another opponent. The final tune-ups will set the stage for USC’s season opener on Nov. 4 hosting North Florida.
South Carolina roster tracker
- Returners: Jacobi Wright, guard; Myles Stute, guard; Zachary Davis, guard; Collin Murray-Boyles; Austin Herro, guard; Morris Ugusuk, guard; Arden Conyers, guard; Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk, forward
- Incoming freshmen: Okku Federiko, forward; Cam Scott, guard; Lance Piper, guard (walk-on); Weston Coggeshall, guard (walk-on)
Added via transfer portal: Jordan Butler, center (Missouri); Nick Pringle, center (Alabama); Jamarii Thomas, guard (Norfolk State)
- Gone: Meechie Johnson, guard (transfer/Ohio State); Ebrima Dibba, guard (transfer/Cleveland State); Josh Gray, forward (transfer/Missouri); Ta’Lon Cooper, guard; BJ Mack, forward; Stephen Clark, forward; Eli Sparkman, guard; Danny Grajzl, guard (walk-on)
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