Lamont Paris sets expectations for Jordan Butler, Cam Scott

The 2024-25 season was a disappointment for reigning SEC Coach of the Year Lamont Paris and the South Carolina Gamecocks, as they finished with a 12-20 (2-16) record and were just one of two SEC teams to miss the NCAA Tournament (LSU).

Returning this season from that team is junior center Jordan Butler and sophomore guard Cam Scott, who have both continued to improve over their careers. Butler averaged 1.8 points and 0.9 rebounds last season, while Scott averaged 2.5 points and 1.3 rebounds. Scott originally entered the Transfer Portal, but withdrew to return to Columbia.

Paris discussed his expectations for Butler and Scott this week.

“These are two guys that are still learning,” Paris said. “Learning how to impact a basketball game positively at this level. Everyone learns at a different rate. You can’t force the learning to happen any faster. When the training wheels came off when I was a little guy, I’m sure my parents probably thought it would happen a lot earlier. You can’t make it happen because you try to force it. Just allowing these guys to be in situations to learn and learn what competing looks like and to learn what defending at this level looks like for a team that’s gonna win a lot of games.”

Both players’ roles should expand in a big way this season, as Carolina’s top six scorers from last season have departed from the program. This includes forward Collin Murray-Boyles (who was a lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft) and forward Nick Pringle (transferred to Arkansas). Around Butler and Scott, Lamont Paris brought back Ohio State transfer (and former Gamecock) Meechie Johnson and Boston College forward Elijah Strong.

“In this culture, there’s a lot of ‘okay it’s my turn now that this guy graduated,’ Paris continued. “Regardless of what the team ends up doing (whether we win or lose), it’s my turn to be the guy that now plays 25 minutes. Flipping the switch from that mentality to this is what we’ve done in the past and we’ve won a lot of games… how do I impact our team’s ability to do the same thing? Just learning. Just learning and trying to improve on their individual skills and learning what really competing at this level on a winning team really looks like.”

Without continued improvement from players such as Scott and Butler, it could be another long season for the Gamecocks. South Carolina has won 20 games in a season just once (2023-24) since it made a run to the Final Four in 2017.