March 26, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Former South Carolina assistant men’s basketball coach Scott Cherry has been named the head coach at High Point University, the school’s athletic department announced on Thursday. Cherry spent the 2008-09 season at South Carolina as an assistant on head coach Darrin Horn’s staff, when the Gamecocks went 21-10 and earned the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division Co-Championship.

“We appreciate everything that Scott Cherry brought to our program in our first year at South Carolina and wish him and his family nothing but the best in their future at High Point University,” Horn said. “Scott understands the importance of building a program with character, academic excellence and commitment to style of play, as well as focusing on putting the student-athlete first. I expect him to do very well as a head coach.”

Cherry helped South Carolina to one of its best seasons in the last decade, as the squad earned 20 wins for the first time since the 2005-06 season, while also collecting double-digit conference wins for just the third time in Carolina’s 18-year history in the SEC. South Carolina defeated three ranked opponents this season, swept the season series against Kentucky and also advanced to postseason play for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign.