May 20, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. –

Two University of South Carolina men’s basketball players took part in spring graduation ceremonies recently on the University’s Columbia campus. Senior guard Branden Conrad received his degree in finance, while classmate and fellow guard Zam Fredrick earned a degree in retailing.

Conrad, who was named to the Dean’s List and SEC Academic Honor Roll during his Gamecock career, contributed 3.5 points and 2.5 assists on the court during the 2008-09 season. Conrad’s season was cut short due to an injury suffered in mid-December. He has accepted a job at BB&T and will begin his post-graduate career during the summer of 2009.

Zam Fredrick

Fredrick, who averaged 15.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game during the 2008-09 season, surpassed the 1,000-point plateau for his entire career (including two seasons spent at Georgia Tech) during the season and finished his career just 46 points shy of 1,000 in the Garnet and Black. Fredrick secured two Gamecock buzzer-beater victories on the year, as his lay-up with five seconds remaining clinched an upset of then-No. 19 Baylor on Jan. 2, while he also hit the winning lay-up with nano seconds left in Carolina’s upset over then-No. 24 Florida on Jan. 21. He concluded his college career with 11.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Fredrick will pursue a career in basketball.