LP’s Second Biggest Fan

I know a thing or two about bball 🏀 South Carolina Basketball Enthusiast 🐔 Lamont gave me a fistbump once 🤜

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

THE PORTAL IS NOW OPEN! LET’S ROLL!!

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

Our ACC v SEC challenge game will be in Raleigh, North Carolina this year against first year head coach Justin Gainey and the Wolfpack. Our best opponent in the 4 years of this event thus far.

This will take place Tuesday, Dec. 1st.

In addition, this is our first non conference game of 13 to be officially scheduled. Let the schedule games begin!

[Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein]

NEWS: Matchups for the 2026 ACC/SEC Challenge are set, per sources.

Ark @ UNC
AU @ Clem
Duke @ UF
BC @ UGA
Wake @ LSU
Pitt @ Mizz
SU @ OU
OleMiss @ VT
SC@NCSt
FSU @ Tenn
Texas @ Lville
Bama @ Miami
UK @ UVA
GT @ MissSt
Stanford @ A&M
Vandy @ ND

https://t.co/8S9f6UaKkn

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

@GamecockWill69 This was my first 82 win team

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

@free_Freehawk That’s the 2025 dates. This years dates haven’t been announced yet

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

This confirms our pod of 4 teams

South Carolina
Southern Cal
Colorado
Utah State

Aside from the USC v USC matchup

I’d like to play So Cal first because the last time we faced Muss, we went 2-0 against his Arkansas team 3 seasons ago.

[Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein]

Sources: LSU will play in the 2026 Acrisure Series in Palm Springs.

The event includes 28 total teams & will feature the following teams in the top two pods:

USC
South Carolina
ASU
Utah St
GCU
Saint Louis
Stanford
Colorado

Official matchups will be released later this summer.

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

@BattleCattleFan Credit for this info goes to @TheD1Docket and someone else who I can’t remember!

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

@USUtheRightBlue @JonRothstein Nah. It’s us, yall, Colorado and so cal.

The other pod was already announced as GCU ASU SLU and Stanford

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

@APlus1670680 @StephenEMarsha2 Well yeah. A 6’11 big man with skills like that is gonna be most teams best player to be fair

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

Here it is!! After a very long wait, we have gotten THE piece that changes this team completely.

I’ll be doing some film on him. But I was told by an international hoops source that Juan is immediately a top big in the SEC from day 1.

We got MUCH better today. ACB is a top 2 Euro league. It’s the real deal.

[Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress]

NEWS: Girona big man Juan Fernandez has committed to South Carolina, Gersh Sports tells DraftExpress.

The 6'11", 23-year-old has been a major contributor in the ACB the past four seasons and brings significant FIBA experience with Argentina's national team at every level.

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

Assist % for sure.

I love Kory and Marcus as players. And I think they’ll be good PGs. But as we get ready for summer practice, I’m interested to see how they progress as passers who are SEEKING an immediate shot. I actually think Juan being such a skilled passer will open that up for those two guards as well. Knowing that when he has the ball in his hands, he’s a pseudo point guard at 6’11. So my biggest concern rests in how much can we assist to makes unlike last year where everything was individual iso creation

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

With this new news, I can give my official starting lineup prediction that several have asked me about.

G-Kory Mincy 6’2
G-Davion Hannah 6’6
G/F-Cam Heide 6’7
F-Aleksas Bieliauskas 6’10
C-Juan Fernandez 6’11

Bench

G-Shane Blakeney 6’5
G-Marcus Johnson 6’2
G-Grant Polk 6’6
G-Eli Sparkman 6’0
F-Jakub Necas 6’10
F-Hayden Assemian 6’6
F-Unnanounced International Player

We can pick up a couple more players if we choose, but the top 8 or so from this group (the starters and Marcus, Shane, and Necas) will be the main rotation if I had to issue a guess.

[Wil Gunter @WilGunter]

Per @WesMitchellGC , South Carolina basketball is set to hire former Clemson and Boston College assistant Steve Smith. Also a native of the Palmetto state, I have known Smith since he was at Georgia Southern and think this is a very strong hire for Lamont Paris.

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

There are some hires you look at and say “I bet that’s for recruiting.” And this is one of those hires.

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

The final coaching hire has been made

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

@free_Freehawk Yeah I mean we all know at this point that shooting 3s is our philosophy. Hard to find many better than Cam Heide at doing that consistently over the years

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

The final coaching hire has been made

[Wes Mitchell @WesMitchellGC]

BREAKING: South Carolina men’s basketball is hiring Boston College assistant Steve Smith, per multiple contacts 🏀

Should be official soon.

The former FSU and Clemson assistant is a Varnville, SC native and highly respected.

Read free: https://t.co/kT7mzgdno4

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

Finally, the directional battle to beat all directional battles. I’ll be locked in

[Rocco Miller @RoccoMiller8]

Sources: Northwestern will host Northeastern as part of its 2026-27 non-conference schedule. The date is set for Friday, November 27th.

Simply a dream matchup for the directional school audience.

#B1G
#CAAHoops

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

@free_Freehawk Heide didn’t leave starting at Texas to play off the bench at South Carolina. The only starter in the air is Shane vs Davion for the 2

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

@gamecocks8031 You also have to remember that pre injury, Polk was very good, shooting at least. Once he got hurt, his shot was off. Now that he’s had a whole offseason to recover, if he stays healthy I foresee the good grant coming back

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

@gamecocks8031 He’s 6’9-6’10 which makes him far more valuable on defense in the post than a 6’6 big. Especially if neither are particularly skilled on offense with the ball in their hands.

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

The 3 is an interesting spot. Hannah, Blakeney, and Heide will rotate in there. You can play any 2 of those at the 2 or 3. You could also play Marcus or Mincy at the 2 if the other one is in the game as well. Polk isn’t second string.

You could also go with a very large lineup that sits Necas at the 3 because of his agility on defense. Him being relatively quick could allow for that.

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

No reason to be skeptical about all conference guards. Sure, they are coming from the A10 and CAA. But those are 2 really good leagues year in and year out. Davion Hannah was an elite hs prospect who ran into an unfortunate injury but prior to that was playing some really solid minutes for a loaded Alabama squad.

The other international guy isn’t near as good as the rest of the bigs we picked up on paper. But I see the vision. He’s younger and has an opportunity to learn from some older guys and get better. He’s a great rebounder. Just needs to figure out 1 more aspect of his game before I’d want him getting real minutes

[LP’s Second Biggest Fan @Trees307]

@PastorP81 I think Heide is a great bridge in size. 6’7 and he’s a sniper. I think he starts regardless. The only comp for Nov. 2nd is gonna be Hannah v Blakeney for the 2 guard role.