How Alabama transfer Nick Pringle will play bigger role than ever with the Gamecocks

Even though he’s new to the Gamecocks, Nick Pringle is set to be more than just a fresh face.

Pringle is expected to play an expanded role for USC this season — both on the court and in the locker room.

“Nick will have a role for us that he has probably never had in his college career,” head coach Lamont Paris said Tuesday at SEC Media Days.

Pringle’s expanded responsibilities will likely center on two key areas: scoring and leadership.

Pringle mostly played in a support role at Alabama, one of the more successful SEC programs over the past few seasons. He started 16 games last season for Alabama, which made it to the Final Four.

Pringle is 6 feet, 10 inches tall and known for his high energy and traditional big-man skills — protecting the paint, rebounding, and finishing around the rim. Alabama didn’t lean on him to score much; he averaged 6.8 points per game last season.

At USC, Paris is asking for more from Pringle.

Paris wants to put the ball in Pringle’s hands and have him generate offense, either by scoring or facilitating plays from the low block. It’s a big shift from his Alabama days.

“I don’t think he’s ever really been asked to score, but we’re really interested in exploring that and seeing what that looks like for him,” Paris said.

In Paris’ system, having a versatile big man is key. The offense relies on ball movement to create space for shooters, and a low-post facilitator like Pringle could be a game-changer. Colin Murray-Boyles played a similar role last season, and Pringle will be expected to work with Murray-Boyles to thrive as an offensive weapon.

But it’s not just on the court where Pringle’s impact will be felt. Paris has praised him for stepping up as a leader early on. Entering his fourth season of college basketball, with SEC experience and a Final Four start under his belt, Pringle has become a mentor to younger players like freshman Cam Scott.

It’s hard to find guys who are comfortable being a vocal leader, especially early on with a new team. But that just goes with who Pringle is as a player and a person.

“He’s got a great, infectious personality, a ton of energy,” Paris said. “Really looking forward to seeing what he does this year.”