South Carolina striker Justin Minaya announced on Tuesday that it is leaving the program declaring itself for the NBA 2021 Draft and also entering the NCAA transfer portal. If Minaya decides not to play professionally, he will be looking for another college basketball program to play his final year of eligibility.
Minaya is the sixth member of the Gamecocks 2020-21 team to leave the program:
— Advance Keyshawn Bryant – NBA draft, not signed with the agent
– Guard Trae Hannibal – NCAA transfer portal
— Advance Jalyn McCreary – NCAA Transfer Portal
– Guard TJ Moss – NCAA Transfer Portal
– Guard Jermaine Couisnard – NBA draft, not signed with the agent
In 20 games played (19 games) last season for the Gamecocks, Minaya, a junior redshirt, averaged 7.0 points per game and led the team in rebounds per game (6.3). As a freshman in 2017-18, he averaged 7.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26.9 minutes per game. In his second year in 2018-19, he averaged 7.4 points and 5.6 rebounds in 25.6 minutes in five games, before suffering a knee injury that left him out for the rest of the season. As a sophomore redshirt in 2019-20, he averaged 7.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.6 steals in 29.8 minutes per game.
Gamecocks have three signatories in the class of 2021: guards Jacobi Wright and Devin Carter and forward TaQuan Woodley. Advance Carlous Williams is still compromised and the program is adding Murray and Columbia native transfer guard Chico Carter.