Paris Adds Another International Forward as Hugo López Signs

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Head coach Lamont Paris added more to the interior of his squad with the signing of another international front court player on Thursday as Hugo López (Madrid, Spain) put pen to paper on a financial aid agreement to play for the Gamecocks in 2026-27.

López joins eight other newcomers who have already signed with South Carolina: forward Aleksas Bieliauskas (Wisconsin), guard Shane Blakeney (Drexel), forward Juan Fernández (Santa Fe, Argentina), guard Davion Hannah (Alabama), forward Camden Heide (Texas), guard Marcus Johnson (Garfield Heights High School), guard Kory Mincy (George Mason) and forward Jakub Nečas (Duquesne).

Hugo López – 6-9, 210 pounds – Madrid, Spain
• Recently concluded his fourth season playing for CB Estudiantes ; played primarily in Primera FEB, the second division of Spanish basketball, for Movistar Estudiantes
• In 2025-26, averaged 2.7 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 56.4% from the floor in 10.9 minutes per game
• In 2023-24, saw action in 24 games and averaged 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 50% from the floor in 12.0 minutes per contest
• In 2022-23, played in 32 games averaging 4.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per contest ; logged shooting splits of 48.5% from the floor and 42.9% from behind the 3-point line
• In 2023, played for Spain in the FIBA U20 European Championship in Greece ; averaged 7.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game ; was 17-of-21 (81%) from the floor across five games ; had 15 points (7-of-9 FGs) and seven rebounds in a 76-54 win in the group phase over Serbia
• Also represented Spain in the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2021

Paris on López
“Hugo brings a physicality and an energy level to our program that is needed to compete in our league. While his offensive game is still developing, he is ahead of the game in terms of how hard he plays and his effort and willingness to do things that matter when it comes to winning games.”

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