South Carolina was one of two SEC teams that missed out on the NCAA Tournament this season. However, the Gamecocks have already bolstered their roster for next year with the addition of Providence transfer center, who announced his commitment to South Carolina for the 2025-26 season via On3 on Saturday.
The 7-foot, 290-pound sophomore hails from Clichy, France, and averaged 4.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game for the Friars this past season. After finishing last in the SEC with a 12-20 overall record and just two conference wins, South Carolina can use reinforcements across the board.
He ties to South Carolina date back to 2021 when he attended a camp under then-head coach Frank Martin, hoping to earn an offer from the Gamecocks. Though he initially committed to Providence, he later transferred to Saint Joseph’s before returning to Providence for the 2023-24 season.
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A physically imposing player with a surprising ability to shoot from three, Essandoko also averaged 0.8 assists per game while shooting 50.7% from the field. His size and skill set should add valuable depth and potential to Lamont Paris’s squad as South Carolina looks to close the gap in the highly competitive SEC.
