Basketball: Deloach unlikely to return

Darrin Horn’s first team at South Carolina appears as though it may be devoid of any freshmen.

Shooting guard Trevor Deloach, who redshirted this past season, is unlikely to return to the team, according to multiple sources. Deloach was told by Horn on Friday that while his scholarship would be honored, the player didn’t figure in the staff’s plans for next season.

Deloach, who played at Saluda High, spent the weekend evaluating his options, according to a source close to him. But the source did not expect Deloach to stick around when he was unlikely to play.

Horn and Deloach could not be reached for comment.

If Deloach does leave, it would leave the Gamecocks without any new players for next season. Previous coach Dave Odom signed just one recruit, forward Darius Morrow of Atlanta. But Morrow said he felt unwanted by Horn and was released from his letter-of-intent last month.

Horn could still end up signing a player to join the team next season. But he said it would probably have to be a player who could make an immediate impact. He may be in the market for a guard, since Deloach’s departure would leave the team with Devan Downey, Zam Fredrick and Brandis Raley-Ross, plus walk-ons Branden Conrad and Robert Wilder.

Without Deloach, the Gamecocks will have 10 scholarship players next year. Fredrick will be the only senior, leaving Horn four scholarships available for the 2009-10 season.

As for Deloach, leaving USC is far from ideal after he redshirted last season. He would have to sit out another year if he transferred to another Division I school. He could play right away if he goes to a Division II school, or he could play at a junior college for one year, then transfer to another Division I school with three years of eligibility remaining.

Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.