Nick Schneiders Class: Junior Hometown: Rietberg, Germany High School: Ems-Berufskolleg Height / Weight: 7-3 / 250 Position: C Major: Graphic Design

The crowd favorite in the Hodge Center... the tallest player to ever play in the program... has played organized basketball for four-plus years... his development has been incredible... is expected to continue to improve and be a factor on both ends of the court for Upstate... has the ability to change games defensively... a starter in most of the games last year, he is expected to continue to push for a starting spot at center this season.

2007-08: Continued his development as a basketball player as a red-shirt sophomore... played in all 30 games... a starter 25 times... averaged 18.3 minutes per game... averaged 4.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game... led the Spartans with 25 blocked shots, 16 during A-Sun games... ranked second on the team with 55 offensive rebounds... had two or more blocked shots on six occasions... nearly had a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds in the near upset of Akron (Nov. 16)... had 11 points and three blocked shots at UNC Greensboro (Nov. 24)... had a career-high 13 rebounds in the historic win at SMU (Dec. 18)... had 13 points at Duquesne (Dec. 30)... had six points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in the win over Kennesaw State (Feb. 1)... had four blocks to go along with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Mercer (Feb. 3)... an A-Sun All-Academic selection.

2006-07: Became a key player off the bench and a crowd favorite for the Spartans... played in 21 games for the Spartans... averaged 2.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game... tallied 13 blocks on the year... grabbed 17 offensive rebounds... averaged 8.8 minutes per game... scored six points and grabbed four rebounds against Francis Marion (Jan. 10)... finished with a season-high nine points and grabbed five rebounds against Augusta State (Jan. 13)... tallied six points and six boards against North Georgia (Jan. 17)... had three points, four rebounds and two assists at North Georgia (Jan. 31)... finished with six points and six rebounds in the regular season finale at UNC Pembroke (Feb. 25)... member of the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Academic Honor Roll.

2005-06: Sat out the year as a red-shirt... a member of the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Academic Honor Roll.

Club: Played just half of a season in a German amateur league before coming to the USC Upstate.

Personal: Born on July 20, 1984 in Bielefeld, Germany... son of Rudiger and Christione Schneiders... has twin younger brothers, Falk and Simon... twin brothers are both 6-11 and have never played basketball... a graphic design major... hobbies include designing posters and logos, updating his Web site, hiking, reading and photography... favorite food is his mom's cakes... favorite movie is "Heat"... likes to watch "Top Gear" on TV... favorite actor is Robert DeNiro... favorite band is R.E.M... favorite season is summer... admires his parents the most.