South Carolina forward Brandon Wallace, an undrafted free agent currently playing in the NBA's Summer League for the Boston Celtics in Las Vegas, was offered and has signed a two-year, partially guaranteed contract with the Celtics.

If Wallace has a long NBA career, it's doubtful he will ever forget his first basket in the NBA - a dunk over the NBA's 2007 No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, Portland's Greg Oden.

Wallace will return to Columbia on Sunday, work to finish the two classes he is taking and looks forward to graduation in August. He will return to Boston in early August with the veterans training camp being held in September.

"I am at a loss for words, but very happy.  It hasn't sunk in yet - I am on cloud nine.  I was not surprised they offered me a contract, but I was surprised they signed me before their other two draft picks," said Wallace.  On playing the 3 in the NBA: "It feels good.  Playing the four in college there is a lot of banging bodies.  Playing the three in the NBA you have to play defense and be very good at chasing and harassing people.  I talked to Tarence Kinsey (who signed with the Memphis Grizzlies last summer as a free agent and ended up starting at the end of the year) before I went to Summer League and he told me rebound, block shots, work hard and good
things will happen."

LSU's Glenn Davis and former Kentucky All-SEC guard Rajon Rondo are also on the Celtics roster.  "They are both very good," Wallace.  "Rajon is excellent - he has really improved since he was in college.  I don't know if playing against them helped me, but I knew what to expect from both of them - their style.  They both were really happy for me yesterday and congratulated me."

Wallace has averaged 6.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg and .5 bpg while playing for the Celtics Summer League team in Las Vegas.

Wallace said playing at South Carolina helped him prepare defensively. "Playing the post in college and knowing how to rebound and block shots helped," said Wallace.  "Knowing what to do on defense is a credit to the USC coaches.  I have to thank my family for their support and of course everyone at South Carolina.  I have to keep working hard and stay focused."

This past season, an All-SEC Honorable Mention selection, Wallace averaged 36.5 mpg, 9.9 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.3 spg and 2.9 bpg. He led the team in blocked shots and rebounds.  Wallace set school record for career games played vs. Vanderbilt (249 in career) and the school record for games played in a career with 135.  He finished his career at No. 9 in the SEC blocked shots. On South Carolina's career list, he is No. 5 in career bpg (1.84 bpg) and No. 6 in career
rebounds (775).  He and Alex English are the only two Gamecock players to finish their career with more than 700 rebounds and 200 blocked shots.

"I'm really excited for Brandon and the opportunity the Celtics have given him to show what he could do in the NBA Summer League against some of the more highly publicized draft choices," said USC Head Coach Dave Odom.  "From all reports he has more than held his own which does not surprise me. I'm sure he will stay focused and finish summer league play on a high note.  I look forward to his return to Columbia this weekend as we get him ready for the opening of fall camp.  Between the end of the summer league play and the beginning of fall camp he will be working to finish his South Carolina degree and graduate in August.  I'm very proud of Brandon and I have a world of confidence in his ability to make the Celtics roster."