May 19, 2004

Columbia, SC – The University of South Carolina men’s basketball team has announced center Antoine Tisby and forward Roderick Trice have both signed a national letter of intent to play for the Gamecocks beginning next year. The two round out USC’s class of four as USC signed Dwayne Day (Montgomery County HS, Ga.) and Stephen McDowell (IMG Academy/Indianapolis, Ind.) earlier this year.

“I’m pleased with the recruiting class assembled by our coaching staff,” said USC Head Coach Dave Odom. “We felt that we needed to help in the post as well as the outside. Both our needs were met. As a group – the four newcomers are talented athletically, serious students and each should be a positive addition to our team chemistry. We look forward to their arrival and the opportunity to work with each one as we continue to build the Gamecock program.”

The signing of these four student-athletes brings the Gamecock total to 12 scholarships. NCAA regulations allow 13 scholarship athletes. At this point no decision has been made if USC plans to sign usc the scholarship for a fifth recruit or carry it over the next year.

Tisby, a 6-8, 228 pound center, comes to South Carolina from Allen County (Kansas) Community College. Playing just the second semester, this year he averaged 17.7 points and 12.4 rebounds in nine games. In March, he was named to the All-Region IV Tournament team. He was coached by Mike Hayes at ACCC. He also considered Oklahoma State, Houston, Miami and St. John’s.

A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Tisby graduated from Schlagle High School, averaging 15.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg and 2.5 bpg his senior year and garnered all-state, all-area and all-conference honors. His team played in the state’s Final Four (1999) and was the state runner-up (2000). Excelling in the classroom, he was named the Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the Kansas City, Kan. Public School System.

He originally signed with Bradley University, playing in six games early in his freshman year prior to receiving a medical redshirt and transferring due to a coaching change (averaged 5.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg). In 2002-03 he played in 10 games at Friends University (NAIA, Wichita, Kansas) and averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds and 3.4 blocks.

Trice, a graduate of Swainsboro High School (Ga.) and most recently playing at Georgia Perimeter College in Decatur (Ga.), is a 6’4, 200 pound forward. At Georgia Perimeter this past year he averaged 21 ppg, 9 rpg, 4.5 spg and 3 apg. He was named the Georgia Junior College Player of the Year, was a JUCO All-American and named to the 2002-03 National Tournament All-Tournament team. His team won the conference and district titles both seasons he played. They went to the National Tournament Final Four in 2003 and played in the Elite Eight his sophomore year. They won back-to-back state titles.

At Swainsboro HS he averaged 25 ppg, 10 rpg and eight apg his senior year. The conference player of the year twice, he was all-conference three times and all-state twice with his team making a trip to both the Elite Eight (2001) and Sweet 16 (2002) during his time under Coach Leroy Jordan. He also lettered in track four times and cross country three times and was the state runner-up in the high jump once.

He also considered Ohio State, Baylor and Minnesota.

McDowell, a 5’11 165 lb. point guard, intends to major in Finance.

McDowell, who most recently trained at IMG Basketball Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) in the post-graduate basketball-training program, averaged 16 points and five assists this past year. He played and trained with coach Mike Moreau at IMG.

McDowell played under Jack Keefer at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Indiana from 2001-02 before transferring and playing under Jerome Lee at Cedar Grove High School from 2002-03. At Cedar Grove (Ga.) his senior year he averaged 20 points, five assists and two steals-per-game. His team was named “Team of the Month” in February 2003.

He was voted to the All-DeKalb County Boys Team of the Year, the 2002 Campbell Osbourne Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team and received the Basketball Award presented by the Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

McDowell’s scholastic awards include: the Principal’s Leadership Award, Charles E. Harris Memorial Award, Leadership Essay Contest Award, the County Line/Ellenwood Community Award and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Scholastic Achievement Award.

McDowell’s lists being a “great listener” as a special skill.

USC’s signee in the early signing period, Day, played under Ken Price for Montgomery County High School in Georgia.

Day’s club team, the Atlanta Celtics, won the national championship last summer – including winning the adidas Big-Time Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada. They were the No. 1 AAU team in the country last summer. He played with Dwight Howard and Josh Smith, high school seniors who are both projected NBA draft picks in June.

Day also considered Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Sate, Mississippi and Mississippi State.