The Gamecocks are among the top contenders in the transfer portal according to South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris.

Former guard Jordan Sears of UT-Martin was one of those targets. The combo guard revealed his commitment to a different university on Thursday, but he had previously ranked the Gamecocks among his top six choices.

Jordan Sears has chosen the LSU Tigers over the South Carolina Gamecocks, Alabama Crimson Tide, West Virginia Mountaineers, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and Arizona State Sun Devils, according to a report from CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein.

Losing Sears to an SEC rival hurts a bit as the Gamecocks could really use a combo guard like him who can score and be a secondary creator alongside whichever point guard Coach Paris brings in via the transfer portal this offseason.

However, with USC being in the top-4 for guards JP Pegues and Dakota Leffew and still heavily involved with some other guards, it is not time for South Carolina basketball fans to panic. Paris’ team has to bring in at least one guard (probably two) in the transfer portal, but his past successes in the portal in years 1 and 2 in Columbia have earned Paris the benefit of the doubt from the fanbase.

This offseason, the Gamecocks also hope to add a significant player. Carolina needs a large man who can stretch the floor and knock down baskets, based on how the offense performed the previous season. Coach Paris has already discussed Collin Murray-Boyles’ ability to shoot the basketball. With CMB and Josh Gray as the team’s only seasoned rim protectors, the Gamecocks can attempt to add a lengthy, shot-blocking big man if CMB is prepared to take on the role of BJ Mack from the previous season—just with far more athleticism.

Trent Noah (wing) and Okku Federiko (forward), two incoming freshmen, may contribute to the squad next season, but how much will depend largely on the actions the Gamecocks take in the transfer portal this winter.