The South Carolina men’s basketball program received a major boost on Friday when 2025 four-star forward EJ Walker committed to head coach Lamont Paris and his staff.
Walker, the third commitment for South Carolina’s 2025 class, picked the Gamecocks over Purdue, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. Standing 6-foot-8 and weighing 230 pounds, Walker is ranked as the No. 146 overall player and the No. 29 power forward nationally by the 247Sports Composite. He is also the No. 2 prospect in Kentucky.
In addition to Walker, South Carolina secured a commitment from four-star guard Eli Ellis. The 6-foot, 185-pound Ellis is ranked No. 102 overall and the No. 18 point guard in the country, while being the No. 4 prospect in North Carolina. Ellis, who also received offers from Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Wake Forest, committed to the Gamecocks on November 15 after a standout performance in the Overtime Elite league, where he averaged 33.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
The first commitment in South Carolina’s 2025 class came from power forward Hayden Assemian, a local prospect from Powdersville High School. Assemian, 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, is ranked No. 197 overall and the No. 39 power forward nationally, and No. 4 in South Carolina. He also holds an offer from Wake Forest and averaged 15.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game as a junior.
Walker, who also received offers from schools like Texas A&M, Dayton, West Virginia, and Missouri, visited South Carolina in late March and Wisconsin in April. He highlighted his strong connection with Coach Paris and the coaching staff, saying, “I built great relationships with the coaches, and they were great to be around. I believe my versatility will be a great fit for their system.”
South Carolina is coming off a successful season in Year 2 under Paris, finishing with a 26-8 overall record, tying for second in the SEC at 13-5, and earning their first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2017 Final Four run. The Gamecocks ended the season ranked No. 25 in the AP poll.
