June 23, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s basketball team continued its academic success in the classroom during the spring semester of 2011. Freshman guard Bruce Ellington was named to the Dean’s List, while junior forward Malik Cooke, junior forward Murphy Holloway, sophomore guard Stephen Spinella, freshman forward RJ Slawson and freshman guard Eric Smith were each named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. Additionally, seniors Sam Muldrow and Johndre Jefferson both earned their undergraduate degrees from the University in May.

“Academics and success in the classroom are an important part of the South Carolina men’s basketball program,” Gamecock head coach Darrin Horn said. “I’m very proud of the effort our team has put into their academic performances.”

South Carolina has enjoyed academic success under the direction of Horn, who enters his fourth season as head coach for the team in 2011-12. The Gamecock team earned its highest GPA on record in the spring of 2009 with a 3.007 collective effort, while the squad has consistently posted a cumulative semester GPA of 2.65 and above during Horn’s time in Columbia.

During his tenure as a head coach, both at Western Kentucky and South Carolina, every player who has exhausted his eligibility under Horn has graduated from their respective University.

** Dean’s List (minimum GPA of 3.5); Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (minimum GPA of 3.0)