South Carolina forward Okku Federiko entered NCAA Transfer Portal

South Carolina freshman forward Okku Federiko has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. He’ll have four seasons of collegiate availability remaining after redshirting in 2024-25.

Federiko enters the transfer portal less than four months after officially landing on campus and being cleared to join the team on January 24. The 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward arrived from Helsinki, Finland, where he was prep teammates with former Gamecocks teammate Morris Ugusuk, who also entered the portal recently. Due to his late arrival, Federiko didn’t play in any games for South Carolina during the 2024-25 season.

“I think he’s still getting the final eligibility in terms of being able to participate in games,” Gamecocks head coach Lamont Paris said upon Federiko’s arrival. “But at this point, that’s also very difficult, just being completely transparent.”

Federiko is the eighth South Carolina player to enter the Transfer Portal. He joins fellow forward Nick Pringle and guards Ugusuk, Zachary Davis, Arden Conyers, Austin Hero, Jamarii Thomas, and Cam Scott.

Federiko came to South Carolina as a three-star recruit out of DRIVE Basketball Academy in Helsinki, Finland. There, he was the country’s top collegiate prospect in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

In 11 games during the 2023-24 season at DRIVE Academy, Federiko led the team averaging 19.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.0 blocks per game, shooting 49.1% from the floor that season. Federiko also averaged 11.1 points and 7.3 rebounds while playing for the Finland National Team in the 2023 FIBA under-20 European Championship.

South Carolina guard Morris Ugusuk plans to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

South Carolina rising junior guard Morris Ugusuk has also entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to On3’s Joe Tipton. Ugusuk, originally from Finland, will have two years of collegiate eligibility remaining wherever he lands.

The 6-foot-4, 170-pound Ugusuk averaged 4.1 points on 37% shooting — including 37.3% from 3-point range — and has been a 77.1% free throw shooter in 62 games over two seasons with the Gamecocks. Ugusuk started in six of the 32 games he participated in last season, averaging 5.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.4 steals during the 2024-25 season.

Ugusuk reclassified and signed with South Carolina in 2023 as a three-star prospect out of the Drive Basketball Academy in Helsinki, Finland, coming to Columbia alongside Federiko. As a senior, Ugusuk averaged 17.2 points, 5.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game at the Drive Basketball Academy. Ugusuk also represented Finland at the 2022 FIBA under-18 European Championship.