May 22, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley announced that Ebony Wilson (Newark, N.J./Rend Lake College/Malcom X Shabazz) has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of South Carolina and play basketball for the Gamecocks. She will have three years of eligibility beginning with the 2009-10 academic year.

“Ebony is a strong, athletic guard who will be able to defend four positions on the floor for us,” Staley said. “Her ability to get to the basket helps in an area we lacked last year. We look forward to Ebony joining our South Carolina family and the city of Columbia.”

Wilson was named Great Rivers Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 2008-09 after finishing second on the team in both scoring (15.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg). The 5-foot-8 guard earned All-Conference and All-Region XXIV honors as well in helping the Lady Warriors to a 23-10 record and a spot in the NJCAA Division I Region XXIV championship game. At Malcom X Shabazz High School, Wilson helped guide the Bulldogs to a pair of NJSIAA Tournament of Champions titles and, as a senior, was named Essex County athlete of the year.

Staley added Wilson to a signing class already ranked among the nation’s elite, coming in at No. 4 on the All-Star Girls Report. Wilson joins Kelsey Bone (Sugar Land, Texas/Dulles), Ashley Bruner (Norman, Okla./Norman), Ieasia Walker (Copiague, N.Y./Copiague) and Monique Willis (Savannah, Ga./A.E. Beach) in the group.