David Ross named boys basketball coach at Hammond

David Ross is getting back in the coaching business.

Ross was named the new boys basketball coach at Hammond on Friday. He replaces Mark McClam, who stepped down earlier this month.

Ross, who played at South Carolina under Eddie Fogler, coached at Cardinal Newman for two seasons and won the SCISA Class 3A championship in 2013 and played for the championship the following year. The Cardinals defeated Hammond in 2013 to win the title. Cardinal Newman was 37-21 in those two seasons.

Ross stepped down in 2014 to spend more time with his family.

"He is a proven winner in the league and we are very impressed with him," Hammond athletic director Jeff Barnes said. "He is the best fit for our program."

Ross, a Florida native, played for the Gamecocks from 1997-2001 and appeared in 103 games at USC. He is a lawyer in Columbia.

Ross will bring his own staff in with him including Branden Conrad who replaced Ross at Cardinal Newman. Conrad also played at USC.

Hammond went 22-3 this season and lost in the semifinals of the SCISA Class 3A playoffs. The Skyhawks are graduating seven seniors, including North Carolina signee Seventh Woods and College of Charleston signee Chevez Goodwin.

Sophomore Lucas Prickett (6.7 ppg) will be the team’s leading scorer returning next season.

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 11:46 AM with the headline "David Ross named boys basketball coach at Hammond."