Last season, the South Carolina men’s basketball team clinched a bid to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017. After the unexpected success, head coach Lamont Paris and his coaching staff had to retool the roster before the end of the offseason.
After two of the Gamecocks' former guards — Meechie Johnson and Ta'Lon Cooper — transferred to Ohio State and graduated, respectively, the Gamecocks aimed to replace the 24 points per game that Johnson and Cooper generated. So, South Carolina added senior guard Jamarii Thomas, who transferred from Norfolk State, to the roster.
Thomas is one of the many new Gamecocks who aim to provide veteran experience to the locker room.
Standing at 5-foot-11, Thomas joined the Gamecocks as the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, or MEAC, Player of the Year. He scored a conference-leading 16.9 points per game, while shooting 38% on his three-point attempts, South Carolina is Thomas’ third school, after he spent his first two collegiate seasons at UNC Wilmington.
Thomas, who was named to the MEAC All-Defensive team last season, also provides the Gamecocks with some defensive upside. He led all MEAC players with 2.1 steals per game during the 2023-24 season.
“Iron sharpens iron, first and foremost,” Thomas said. “We’ve got a competitive group of guards. We get after it every day.”
Thomas has served as a role model for freshman guard Cam Scott. Scott said Thomas is one of many veteran players who have helped make his transition from high school to college basketball more seamless.
“I feel like I’ve learned a little bit of everything from everybody,” Scott said. “Guys, specifically our older guys, Nick, Jacobi, Jamarii… They have just been taking me under their wing.”
At Norfolk State, Thomas was a willing passer who averaged 3.8 assists per game. His role was primarily to score, whether that be by creating opportunities for himself or for others.
Head coach Lamont Paris said he wants Thomas to continue being aggressive, but to also facilitate the Gamecocks' offense, allowing other players on the team to score.
“I came in, I was a little passive, didn’t want to step on any toes,” Thomas said. “(Paris) wants me to step on the gas and, obviously, facilitate because I’m a point guard.”
Thomas said he is excited to create more chemistry with sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles and graduate student forward Nick Pringle.
“They make the game so much easier,” Thomas said. “For example, you just throw it into Collin, and they’re automatically going to double Collin because he can score when he wants. He can just kick it out and that’s a free shot.”
Since the regular season began with South Carolina's home opener against North Florida on Nov. 4, Thomas has been given the first crack at handling the team's starting point guard duties.
“Jamarii is another guy we brought in by way of the transfer portal with an expectation that he would go out there and compete for that role," Paris said.
Though the Gamecocks ultimately fell to the Ospreys in that game, Thomas played a team-high of 33 minutes and scored 12 points, tying for second amongst South Carolina players. Through three games this season, Thomas is averaging 27.7 minutes, 10.7 points and 3.3 assists, per game, while shooting 52.9% from the field.
Thomas was selected as a member of the 2023-24 Lou Henson All-America Team, a team consisting of the top players in the NCAA hailing from mid-major conferences. Now, Thomas gets the opportunity to prove himself in the SEC.
“The MEAC is a good conference, but the SEC is a little bit more competitive,” Thomas said. “I just wanted to take the next step.”
Thomas and the Gamecocks will look to improve their overall record to 3-1 when they take on No. 16 Indiana (2-0) at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana on Saturday. The game will tip off at 3 p.m. and will be streamed on Peacock.