by Shawn Nowlin
The best season in the University of South Carolina men’s basketball program history came in 2017 when the Gamecocks won 26 games and advanced to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. Five years later, when Frank Martin accepted the head coach position at UMASS, former USC Athletic Director Ray Tanner hired Lamont Paris from Chattanooga University on a five-year, $12 million contract.
One of the most underrated coaches in all of college basketball, Paris knew that to continue the trajectory Coach Martin helped create, he would have to outwork his opposition while establishing his own identity.
“The barriers that stand between winning — there aren’t a ton here. I know we’ve been in nine NCAA Tournaments in the school’s history. I’d like to add to that. That’s my objective. I’d like to add to that at a fast rate. I don’t think it’s a six-year project,” Paris said during his introductory press conference.
He added, “It’s why I do this. It is why guys come to practice. It’s why they wake up early. It’s why they run hills. It’s why they lift weights. It’s why they do community service. It’s why they go to classes. It’s why they make sacrifices.”
Most first-year college basketball players are not real difference makers. The first time that Coach Paris saw Roanoke native Abu Yarmah in action at Patrick Henry High, he knew he was talented enough to make an impact from day one.
Just 18 years old, Yarmah, a legit 6’7, has tremendous positional size and defensive instincts. In the Overtime Elite League last year, he averaged 13.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. His teammates were current Gamecock players Eli Ellis and Hayden Assemian, both four-star national recruits.
Paris wasn’t the only coach vying for Yarmah’s services. The three-star national recruit could have realistically been an Appalachian State Mountaineer, Arkansas State Red Wolve, High Point University Panther, Ohio University Bobcat or Old Dominion Monarch.
On why he chose USC, Yarmah explained, “South Carolina just felt like home. I love the facilities and the campus environment. Their style of play perfectly complements my game. I am excited to be part of this program. I feel like we are going to surprise a lot of people.”
After many discussions with the coaching staff and his family, Yarmah decided to redshirt this year.
“Abu decided that he wanted to redshirt. I’m happy for him and the things that he’s going to attack this year,” Paris told reporters before the start of the season. “He felt really good and comfortable about it. And so, if he’s happy, I’m happy. We are lucky to have a talent like him in our program.”
So far, USC has a 4-2 record to start the season. The Gamecocks’ next game is against Charleston Southern on November 28.
