Sept. 3, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina men’s basketball coach Darrin Horn announced today the addition of Malik Cooke (Jr. – F – 6-5 – 200 – Charlotte, N.C./Christ School/University of Nevada) to the men’s basketball team as a walk-on for the 2009-10 season. Cooke, a native of Charlotte, N.C., who spent two years at the University of Nevada, will sit out the upcoming season due to NCAA transfer rules. He will be eligible to play during the 2010-11 season as a redshirt-junior. Cooke will not receive any financial assistance from South Carolina during the 2009-10 academic year.

“I’m excited to be part of the program that coach Horn and his staff are building here at South Carolina,” Cooke said. “I transferred from Nevada to get closer to home, and I feel that South Carolina is the best program to allow me the opportunity to grow as a player.”

Cooke, a graduate of Christ School in North Carolina, saw action in all 33 games, including one start, at Nevada as a true freshman in 2007-08, contributing 2.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per contest. As a sophomore, Cooke started all 34 games for the Wolf Pack, posting 9.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per outing.