COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ South Carolina basketball coach Darrin Horn has granted scholarships to walk-ons Branden Conrad and Robert Wilder.
Conrad, a 6-foot-2 guard, played in 10 games last season. He had transferred from Navy, then sat out a season before getting his chance to play. Wilder, a 6-foot-1 guard, played in six games for the Gamecocks last season.
Horn said he and his staff like the work ethic and dedication the players have shown since he arrived from Western Kentucky to succeed Dave Odom as coach.
"Both Branden and Robert have been exemplary in everything that we have asked of them since we arrived on campus," Horn said. "Since we have some scholarships available, I felt that we should reward them while we can."
Conrad, who scored 6 points and six rebounds last year, is the son of former Clemson point guard and current U.S. District Court Judge Bobby Conrad, who sits in the Western District of North Carolina.
"I am excited about helping lead this team to new heights in my senior season," he said. "To do it as a scholarship player is a goal realized."
Wilder, of Chapin, scored 3 points and had two rebounds last season. Like Conrad, Wilder sat out a year after joining the Gamecocks.
"I'm excited about the direction our program is headed and want to do whatever I can to help make it successful," he said.
Horn's move leaves the Gamecocks with 11 scholarship players, two fewer than the NCAA allows, for this coming season. The Gamecocks lone recruit, Darius Morrow, was released from his letter-of-intent after the coaching change. Sophomore forward Chad Gray was dismissed from the team and freshman Trevor Deloach left the program.
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