In today’s day and age, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for teams at the mid-major level to retain top talent.
Conference USA is one of the most impacted mid-major conferences. Jacksonville State is no stranger to the dangers of the portal.
After going 23-13 in 2024-25, it’s almost an entirely new team for head coach Ray Harper, who enters his 10th season with the Gamecocks. Jaron Pierre Jr., who scored 21.4 points per game last season as one of the best bucket-getters in the country, transferred to SMU. Jao Ituka (8.7 ppg) is off to Northern Illinois. Michael Houge (8.5 ppg) is now at Oakland.
There isn’t a lot of returning production, but one player Harper hopes to build around is Jamar Franklin. After playing at South Alabama and Georgia Southern, Franklin appears to have finally found a home in Jacksonville, Alabama. The 6-foot-2 guard returns for his second season with the Gamecocks after scoring 10.4 points per game in 14 contests, ranking as the second-leading scorer after Pierre.
However, Franklin might not be the centerpiece for the Gamecocks. That role belongs to prized transfer and preseason All-Conference USA selection Mostapha El Moutaouakkil.
El Moutaouakkil is a senior transfer from Louisiana, where he had a stellar season, averaging 14.5 points per game on 46% shooting. Prior to this, he averaged 25 points at Indian River Community College. Needless to say, the Moroccan native is a skilled scorer at every level.
Tennessee State transfer Tiger Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. also figures to make an impact on the offensive end for the Gamecocks this season. After joining the program last offseason, Fitzgerald missed the entire season with an injury. But now he is back healthy and ready to play a viable role. Over his career, he has averaged 11.7 points as a rim-running guard.
Emondrek Erkins-Ford and returner Iaroslav Niagu will lead the rotation of post players for the Gamecocks. Niagu averaged 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per contest as a reserve last season. As a 7-footer, Niagu is one of the tallest players in CUSA, and Erkins-Ford was stellar at JUCO school Eastern Florida State College, averaging 15.6 points per game last season.
The rest of the Jacksonville State roster consists of role players who have proven they can score. AC Bryant scored 14 points per game at Alabama A&M. Toby Nnadozie scored 12.6 points per contest at Coppin State and earned MEAC Defensive Player of the Year with 2.53 steals per game. Aitor Anabitarte was a two-time NAIA All-American, tallying 16.2 points per contest.
Jaye Nash could also see some playing time as a former four-star recruit. After committing to Tulsa, he only averaged 1.2 points per game in a limited role.
Essentially, the season will boil down to whether the transfers can translate their scoring from the lower ranks to the CUSA. Harper has proven he can get the most out of his players, so it’s anyone’s guess where the Gamecocks will finish. Some have predicted them as high as second, others as low as 11th. That’s what makes college basketball so exciting — the unpredictability and the chase for success each year.
