Vermillion, S.D. - South Dakota head coach Dave Boots announced on Wednesday, Nov. 10, that two recruits have signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Coyote men's basketball team. Nimrod Hilliard of Madison, Wis., and Terrell Brown of Colorado Springs, Colo., will begin their USD career during the 2011-12 academic year.

"My staff and I are really pleased to sign these two prospects," Boots said. "They are talented, athletic kids that fill a need we felt we had. Nimrod is an outstanding point guard that has a great understanding of the game and creates a lot of scoring chances for his teammates. Terrell is an exceptional athlete that can score at will, but plays tough on defense also. They are both hard-working students and fit into the team chemistry we are looking for."

South Dakota will have one scholarship left for the late signing period in April. Below are biographies for USD's Fall 2010 signees.

Nimrod Hilliard - Point Guard - Madison, Wisc. One of the top point guards in the state of Wisconsin, the 6-0, 150-pound Hilliard has used his exceptional speed to guide the Madison East Purgolders the past two seasons.

As a junior he averaged over 17 points, seven assists and two steals per game to earn all-state honorable mention, first-team all-area and first-team all-conference honors. The Purgolders, who compete in the biggest class in Wisconsin, went 20-4 overall on the season and 15-3 in the conference to advance to the district tournament. Hilliard posted a career-high 14 assists against La Follette during the season.

During his sophomore season Hilliard averaged over 11 points, six assists and one steal per game to earn second-team all-conference. Madison qualified for the district tournament with a 19-4 and 15-3 record, thanks in part to a career-high 28 points for Hilliard against Janesville Craig. He also notched a career-high seven steals in his first varsity game during the season.

Hilliard is currently ranked No. 7 in the 2011 recruiting class by Wisconsin Sports Network. Nimrod is the son of Tammy and Nimrod Hilliard III.

Hilliard on USD: "I've liked South Dakota ever since they started recruiting me. The coaching staff and I have built a great relationship and when I came on my visit it felt like a family there. Everything about USD felt right. Their winning record also attracted me. Everybody wants to play for a winning team."

Terrell Brown - Shooting Guard - Colorado Springs, Colo. An athletic shooting guard at 6-4 and 185 pounds, Brown of Palmer High School is one of the top perimeter players in the region thanks to his attacking style and finishing abilities. His effort on the defensive end has also made him an early favorite in Colorado's race for Mr. Basketball.

As a junior Brown led Palmer to an 18-6 record and an appearance in the district tournament final to earn second-team all-state and first-team all-conference honors. He averaged over 17 points, five rebounds and two steals per game while shooting 84 percent from the free-throw line. He also topped the 1,000 career-point mark during the season. He has earned all-conference and all-state honors each of his first three prep seasons.

Brown is also a longtime member of the Colorado Chaos Basketball Club. He finished his career as one of the all-time leading scorers in club history and also topped 1,000 career points for the Chaos. Throughout his career he was named to numerous all-tournament teams while helping the program to frequent tournament titles, including the Desert Invitational in Phoenix, Ariz., and a Final Four finish at the Metro Sports Classic in Kansas City, Kan. Brown is the 64th member of Colorado Chaos to commit to an NCAA Division I school.

Terrell is the son of Nathan Brown and Mae Edwards.

Brown on USD: "What helped me make my decision was South Dakota basketball's winning tradition. Coach Boots is also a great individual that is like a father figure to me. I really believe the Coyotes will help me develop as an athlete and as a man. I got to go to one of the football games this fall and see how intense the atmosphere is around Coyote sports. USD's academics are very good as well."