University Southern California Trojans
Men's Hoops To Host UCLA
January 10, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2000
LOS ANGELES - The USC men's basketball team (9-5 overall, 2-0 in the Pacific-10 Conference, tied for first), under fourth-year head coach Henry Bibby and a winner of a season-high four straight games and six of its last seven, opens the home part of its league schedule when it hosts rival UCLA (9-3, 1-1), ranked No. 25 (USA Today), in an early-season crosstown clash on Wednesday (Jan. 12) at 7:30 p.m. at the Sports Arena. The game will mark the first time USC opens the home portion of the Pac-10 schedule against the Bruins since 1989-90 (a USC loss). The Trojans, who opened 2-0 in the Pac-10 for the first time since the 1996-97 season with a road sweep of the Washington schools, will be looking for their first 3-0 conference start since the 1993-94 season. They will also be looking to snap a 10-game losing streak to the Bruins. USC, which made its sixth postseason appearance of the 1990s when it faced Wyoming in the first round of the 1999 NIT, finished 15-13 overall and 7-11 (tied for seventh) in the Pac-10 last season and returns four starters and six lettermen.
GAME #15
USC (9-5) vs. No. 25 UCLA (9-3, 1-1) at the Sports Arena on Wednesday (Jan. 12). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised live by FOX Sports Net and will be broadcast live on XTRA-AM (690). The Bruins, directed by fourth-year coach Steve Lavin, have been paced early by true freshman forward Jason Kapono, who is averaging a team-high 14.7 points per game. He has also made 23-of-47 three-point attempts (.487). Sophomore forward Jerome Moiso is averaging 13.0 points while sophomore center Dan Gadzuric averages 10.6 points and a team-best 8.1 rebounds and leads the Pac-10 in field goal percentage (.573). Junior guard Earl Watson is scoring 10.2 points per game and averages 5.3 assists. They are without the services of talented sophomore JaRon Rush, who is suspended indefinitely. As a team, UCLA is second in the Pac-10 in scoring defense (62.3). UCLA has won 10 straight over USC and hasn't lost to the Trojans since an 85-79 game at the Sports Arena in 1994.
LAST TWO GAMES
USC opened Pac-10 play with its first road sweep of the Washington schools in 15 years when it downed Washington State on Jan. 6, 83-61, and defeated Washington in overtime, 81-79, on Jan. 8. In an exciting affair with the Huskies on Saturday at KeyArena, USC let a 15-point second-half lead slip away, but showed some grit by tying the game at the end of regulation and battling to victory in overtime despite having two starters (sophomore forward Sam Clancy and junior guard Jeff Trepagnier) foul out. Junior forward/center Brian Scalabrine scored a season-high 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Clancy scored 23 points to lead USC. Sophomore guard Brandon Granville had his third double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 assists and Trepagnier added 11 points and five steals. Sophomore forward David Bluthenthal had 10 rebounds, his second-highest total of the season. The Trojans controlled the game for the first 34 minutes. They led for the entire first half, by as many as 12 points four times, and entered halftime up 44-36. The lead grew to as high as 15 points (at 61-46). USC still led 73-62 with 5:50 to go when the Huskies, led by guard Deon Luton's 21 points, went on a 12-0 run to take a 74-73 lead with 1:11 left (Trepagnier fouled out at 3:52 during that run). Bluthenthal, fouled with 19.8 seconds left in regulation, made 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game. Washington's Michael Johnson had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but was errant on a jumper, sending the game to OT. Washington had a chance to get a big early lead in overtime when Clancy was called for his fifth foul and was also called for a technical foul, but the Huskies made only 2-of-4 free throws and failed to convert on the ensuing possession. Four consecutive points by Scalabrine gave USC a 78-76 lead, but a three-point play by Carey put the Huskies back up by a point with 65 ticks left. Scalabrine got the lead right back with a layup at 49.5 to go and, after Washington failed to score on its possession, Granville made 1-of-2 foul shots to provide the final margin of victory. Washington had one more chance, but forward Chris Walcott's three-point attempt at the buzzer failed to draw iron. Washington made only 1-of-10 field goal attempts in the extra frame. By comparison, USC's win over Washington State was a much less intense game as all five Trojan starters scored in double figures. Trepagnier scored a game-high 18 points and added eight rebounds and four steals while Clancy posted his fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead USC. Granville had 13 points and eight assists while Scalabrine had 16 points, six boards and six assists. Bluthenthal rounded out the starters' scoring with 11 points. Senior forward Jarvis Turner made his return to the court after a seven-game layoff (due to a foot injury) and scored five points in 14 minutes. The Trojans jumped on the Cougars early, taking a 16-5 lead less than five minutes into the game. The Cougars got to within three points at 16-13, but the Trojans responded, rebuilding their lead and taking a 43-30 edge into halftime. USC's lead never reached single digits again, though the Cougars did get to within 10 at 48-38 with 15:18 to go. It was 60-48 with 9:16 left when USC went on a 17-4 run to take a 77-52 lead with 2:51 left, effectively ending the game.
LAST GAME NOTES
USC's two-point win was by far its closest victory of the season. The next closest final score was the season-opening win against Cal State Northridge, 73-59 ... USC, 3-4 vs. Washington in overtime games, hadn't played the Huskies in an overtime game since 1982 and hadn't beaten them in overtime since 1959. USC was 1-1 last year in overtime and is now 46-39 all-time in overtime games ... Brian Scalabrine played 45 minutes for the second time in his career and Brandon Granville did it for the first time in his career ... Granville reached double digits in assists for the fifth time this season ... Clancy's 23 points marked the 10th consecutive game he has scored in double figures, the longest streak on the team ... Brandon Granville's two treys marked the sixth game in a row he's had at least that many ... Jeff Trepagnier's five steals marked the 12th time of his 13 games that he has had at least three thefts in a game and the sixth time he has had at least five thefts ... Sam Clancy's lone block moved him into sixth place on USC's career blocked shot chart at 62 ... Clancy has now scored at least 20 points in a game four times, the most on the team.
ROSTER ADDITION
USC Coach Henry Bibby has added true freshman football player Sandy Fletcher to the Trojans' roster. Fletcher, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard from Los Angeles, began the football season as a safety but finished as a receiver, redshirting. He was named USC's Black Shirt (scout team) Offensive Player of the Year. He began practicing with the Trojans on Dec. 13. Fletcher averaged 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals as a 1999 senior at Inglewood (Calif.) High, earning 1999 All-CIF Division II first team, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay first team, Bay League Co-MVP, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West honorable mention and team MVP honors. He was a three-year starter at guard. He was also a three-year starter as a receiver and cornerback on the football team at Inglewood and competed in track and field as a sprinter as well.
JARVIS TURNER INJURY UPDATE
USC had been without senior forward Jarvis Turner, the Trojans' top reserve, since the fifth game of the season because of a stress fracture in his foot, but the senior made his return at Washington State and at Washington. He scored five points in 14 minutes and made his third career three-pointer in the first half against the Cougars and played some key minutes down the stretch in overtime against the Huskies. The injury originally occurred in USC's first exhibition game on Nov. 5.
TRENDS
USC's five starters are shooting a combined .496 from the field ... During USC's stretch of six wins in its last seven games, the Trojans have held opponents to a combined .383 field goal percentage (.269 from three-point range). In contrast, USC is shooting .487 from the field and .407 from beyond the arc in that same time frame. Sam Clancy is USC's leading scorer in that span (17.3) and also shares high rebounding honors with David Bluthenthal (7.1). Brandon Granville has done the best from three-point range (.472, 17-of-36) ... USC has held opponents to 23 points or less in the first half five times, has held opponents to 61 points or less seven times and has held opponents to less then 40.0% shooting seven times ... In the Trojans' nine wins, they have outscored their foes by an average of 25.5 points (86.2 to 60.7) ... All five regular USC starters have at least one double-double.
TURN THIS OVER
USC is turning the ball over the least in the Pac-10 (14.8) and is forcing the most turnovers (21.5). That translates into a 6.7 turnover margin, tops in the league.
FINDING THE RANGE
The Trojans struggled from three-point range at the start of the season but continue to show signs of climbing out of the slump. USC made only 23-of-97 three pointers (23.7%) in its first six games but have improved in the last eight contests, making 54-of-135 (40.0%). USC's top long-distance marksman continues to be forward/center Brian Scalabrine, who has made 16-of-32 (.500) after making 1-of-6 all of last year.
USC AMONG THE NATIONAL LEADERS
USC guards Brandon Granville and Jeff Trepagnier are both among the nation's leaders in their respective specialties, assists and steals (through Jan. 7). Trepagnier (4.4 spg) and Granville (8.1 apg) are second and fourth in the country, respectively. Trepagnier's school-record 10 steals against Utah State on Nov. 24 are the most in the nation this year.
USC IN THE PAC-10
USC players continue to dominate the Pac-10 charts. Sam Clancy is second in scoring (17.6), fifth in rebounding (7.7) and blocks (1.6) and tied for 10th in field goal percentage (.500). Brian Scalabrine is tied for sixth in scoring (16.0), second in three-point percentage (.500), 11th in rebounding (6.4), eighth in field goal percentage (.528) and 10th in assists (3.4). Jeff Trepagnier is eighth in scoring (15.8), seventh in rebounding (7.0) and first in steals (4.4). Brandon Granville is first in assists (8.1) and third in steals (2.6). David Bluthenthal is 14th in rebounding (6.2) and tied for 10th in field goal percentage (.500).
CLIMBING THE CAREER CHARTS
Sophomore forward Sam Clancy has surpassed junior guard Jeff Trepagnier on the USC career blocked shot chart. Clancy is now sixth with 62 while Trepagnier, standing only 6-foot-4 but possessing fantastic leaping ability, is ninth with 56. The USC record is 128 by Lorenzo Orr (1992-95). Trepagnier is also working his way up the USC Top 10 in steals with 135, good for third place. Derrick Dowell is second with 179 and Stais Boseman (1994-97) owns the record with 208.
SEASON STANDARDS
USC guards Brandon Granville and Jeff Trepagnier have both already posted USC single-game records in assists and steals, respectively, this year. Now, they are closing in on the school season records in their respective specialties. Granville's 113 assists are almost two-thirds of the record of 176, set by Larry Friend in 1985. Trepagnier is closing in fast on the steals record after 14 games with 57. The season record is 62, set by Derrick Dowell in 1987. The Pac-10 season record is 110 set by Jason Kidd in 1993. He needs 21 to tie Brevin Knight for 10th place on the chart at 78.
STARTERS - AND FINISHERS
USC is relying heavily on its five chief starters. The group of guards Jeff Trepagnier and Brandon Granville, forwards Sam Clancy and David Bluthenthal and forward/center Brian Scalabrine have combined to start all but two times and have accounted for 82.3% of the minutes played. The quintet has scored 1,012 of the team's 1,092 points (92.7%).
40/45-MINUTE CLUB
Each regular starter has played at least a full game once this season (including overtime). Guard Brandon Granville has played a complete game three times, Jeff Trepagnier and Brian Scalabrine have each done it twice and Sam Clancy and David Bluthenthal have each done it once. At Washington, Granville and Scalabrine both played 45 minutes.
20-POINT PERFORMANCES
Each regular starter has scored at least 20 points once this season. Sam Clancy has done it four times, Jeff Trepagnier, Brandon Granville and Brian Scalabrine have each done it three times and David Bluthenthal has done it once.
PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior forward/center Brian Scalabrine was named the Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 6-12. Scalabrine averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in blowout wins against Hawai'i and Loyola Marymount. In the latter game, he recorded his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds and added a career-high seven assists. It's the first time he's been honored with the Pac-10's weekly award and the 18th all-time for USC. The last Trojan to win the award was guard Gary Johnson in the last week of the 1997-98 season.
THOU SHALL STEAL
Thanks mainly to guards Jeff Trepagnier (57 steals) and Brandon Granville (37), USC has 164 steals as a team, compared to its opponents' 103. As a team, the Trojans are averaging 11.7 steals a game. Last year, the Trojans averaged 9.4. In fact, as a pair, they average 7.0 steals per game, the top tandem in the nation through Jan. 9.
BROKEN RECORDS
Guard Jeff Trepagnier set a USC (and Maui Invitational) single-game steals record with 10 against Utah State in the final game of the tournament on Nov. 24. He broke his own record of eight set against Loyola Marymount last season on Dec. 9. Sophomore guard Brandon Granville also posted a USC and Maui Invitational single-game record. His came with 15 assists against Memphis on the second day of the tournament on Nov. 23. The record was previously shared by Larry Friend (1986) and Stais Boseman (1996), who both had 14.
SHAQ IMPRESSIONS
After making 29-of-36 free throws (80.6%) in their season opener, the Trojans have made only 164-of-261 (62.8%) in their last 13 games combined. Overall, USC is 193-of-297 (65.0%).
HE'S STILL GIVING
Guard Brandon Granville is approaching USC's all-time top 10 in assists and he is only midway through his sophomore season. He already has 253 career assists, only two short of Don Carfino in 10th place. The career record is 409 (Larry Friend, 1983-86). After never having had more than nine assists in a game as a freshman, Granville has had at least 10 assists fives times as a sophomore, including in all three games of the Maui Invitational. He also had nine assists against Duke. No Trojan since Burt Harris in the 1992-93 season has even posted double digits in assists in two games in a row. Granville also has posted three double-doubles this season.
PACIFIC-10 PRESEASON POLL
USC was picked to finish seventh in the 1999-2000 Pac-10 media poll. Arizona (356 points), with 32 of a possible 36 first-place votes, was tabbed as the favorite to win the title this season. UCLA (307) finished second and had three first-place votes and Stanford (296) was picked for third with one first-place vote. Oregon (246) was fourth, followed by Oregon State (174), California (152), USC (151), Arizona State (129), Washington (117) and Washington State (44).
TOURNEY TEAMS ON THE SCHEDULE
The Trojans will face six teams this season that reached the 1998-99 NCAA Tournament (North Carolina, Duke, Washington, UCLA, Arizona and Stanford) and another three that played in the 1999 NIT (Northwestern, Oregon and California) for a combined 15 games against teams that reached the postseason a year ago. So far, USC is 2-2 against the above teams.
RANKED TEAMS ON THE SCHEDULE
USC is slated to play eight games against five teams ranked in the Associated Press' Preseason Top 25. They are North Carolina (No. 6 ), Arizona (No. 9 ), Duke (No. 10 ), UCLA (No. 12 ) and Stanford (No. 13 ). All rankings preseason.
USC AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Trojans are 0-2 against ranked teams in 1999-2000, went 1-6 against ranked teams in 1998-99 and are 4-21 versus ranked teams since December of 1996. USC's lone win over a ranked team last year was at then-No. 6 Stanford, 86-82, in overtime. In USC's other three wins in the above stretch (all at home), USC shocked then-No. 6 (and eventual NCAA champion) Arizona, 75-62, on Jan. 16, 1997, defeated then-No. 16 Stanford, 84-81, on Feb. 6, 1997, and toppled then-No. 2 Arizona, 91-90 (OT), on March 5, 1998.
USC AT HOME
Dating back to 1996-97, the Trojans are 31-13 (.705) in their last 44 games at the Sports Arena and USC is 89-37 (.706) at the Sports Arena since the beginning of the 1991 season, including a 16-game winning streak over a span of the 1992 and 1993 seasons and a nine-game winning streak spanning the end of 1997-98 and the beginning of 1998-99.
BRIAN SCALABRINE
Junior o forward/center o 6-foot-9 o 250 pounds
* Averaging 16.0 points (second best on team), 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals (both third best). His .500 three-point percentage (16-of-32) and .528 field goal percentage are tops on the team and his 3.4 assists per game are second on the team. * 1999-2000 Top-50 Wooden Award and All-American candidate. * Named Pac-10 Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 6-12, the first such honor of his career and the 18th overall for USC. During games against Hawai'i and Loyola Marymount, Scalabrine averaged 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. * Had season-high 24 points and nine rebounds at Washington, playing all 45 minutes of overtime game. His 10-of-18 field goals made and attempted both tied career highs. * Posted second and third career double-doubles with 21 points and career-high 11 rebounds at San Diego State and 16 points and 10 rebounds at Loyola Marymount. * Scored 21 points and had three steals against UC Santa Barbara. Had 19 points at St. Bonaventure and against Hawai'i, 18 points vs. Cal State Northridge and 17 points against both Memphis and then-No. 15 Duke. * 1998-99 Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year and also received All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors. * Led USC in scoring (14.6), rebounding (6.4) and field goal percentage (.531, 152-of-286) last year. Was second in assists (68) and third in blocks (25). * "(Scalabrine) is an all-leaguer. He's the closest thing I've seen to Detlef Schrempf since Detlef Schrempf. He can bring it on the break. He can pass it and he can shoot it. He's a pro, no question." - Arizona Coach Lute Olson * "(USC) is well-rounded with a great inside guy (Scalabrine) who will be a professional player. He's as good as it gets." - Arkansas State Coach Dickey Nutt * "Scalabrine is a great Division I player. I think he's terrific." - Long Beach State Coach Wayne Morgan
SAM CLANCY
Sophomore o forward o 6-foot-7 o 240 pounds
* USC's leading scorer (17.6), rebounder (7.7) and shot blocker (1.6). He also leads the team in free throws made (62) and attempted (99) and in double-doubles (five). * Scored career-high 24 points on 8-of-9 field goals and 8-of-9 free throws and also had eight rebounds against Cal State Northridge. * Had 23 points (including career-high 11 field goals) and three steals against then-No. 5 North Carolina and had 23 points at Washington. * Posted fifth double-double of season with 17 points and 10 rebounds in Pac-10 opener at Washington State. * Sixth on USC's career blocked shot chart (62). * First Trojan to post three consecutive double-doubles since Jaha Wilson did it four consecutive times in the 1995-96 season (vs. Oregon, Stanford, California and Arizona State). Clancy's double-doubles came against UC Santa Barbara (22 points and 11 rebounds), St. Bonaventure (15 and 11) and Hawai'i (16 and 11). * Had 19 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks at Long Beach State, had 19 points, eight rebounds, two blocks vs. then-No. 15 Duke and 18 points and nine boards at San Diego State.
JEFF TREPAGNIER
Junior o guard o 6-foot-4 o 195 pounds
* One of the top athletes and best leapers in the nation whose dunks and athleticism (he has a 40-inch vertical leap) often land him on Plays of the Week highlight reels around the country. * Leads the team in steals (4.4, first in the Pac-10, second in the nation) and minutes (35.8) and is second in rebounding (7.0) and third in scoring (15.8). * He has made at least three steals in 12 of his 13 games and has had at least five steals six times. His 57 steals leaves him just six short of breaking Derrick Dowell's USC season record of 62. * Had a spectacular game against Utah State in defeat at the Maui Invitational. Had 19 points, broke his own USC single-game steals record with 10 steals (the old mark was eight), blocked four shots and had seven rebounds. Overall in Maui, Trepagnier averaged 15.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.3 steals, 2.7 assists and 1.7 blocks in 39.0 minutes per game. * Had second double-double of season vs. then-No. 15 Duke with 15 points and season-high 12 rebounds. * Had season-high 23 points vs. UC Santa Barbara to go with five steals. Posted 20 points vs. both Northwestern and Hawai'i and had 19 points, six steals and four assists against Memphis and 18 points and four steals at Washington State. * Missed the St. Bonaventure game while attending a funeral for his grandmother in Southern California. * Was the only Pac-10 player to finish in the Top 10 in steals, blocks and field goal percentage (.492, 125-of-154) last year and he averaged a double-double in his last five games (16.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg). * Was also a two-sport athlete in 1999, competing in the high jump for the track and field team in a dual meet with UCLA and at the Pac-10 Championships. New to the sport, he won the event against the Bruins (6-9 3/4) and finished second at the Pac-10s (7-0 1/2). * Posted fifth double-double of last season with career-high 24 points and career-high 17 rebounds at Wyoming in the first round of the NIT. * "Jeff Trepagnier is as good of an athlete as we've played against and he's got courage, too." - Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Head Coach * "Trepagnier is a sensational athlete who has improved his fundamentals and gives the Trojans' backcourt some much-needed size." - Jon Wilner, Los Angeles Daily News
BRANDON GRANVILLE
Sophomore o guard o 5-foot-9 o 175 pounds
* Averaging 8.1 assists per game (first in the Pac-10, fourth in the nation) and has five double-digit assist efforts and three double-doubles. He is second on the team in steals (2.6) and fourth in scoring (12.6). * Had USC single-game record 15 assists against Memphis in the Maui Invitational, also setting a tournament record. He also had 19 points and five steals in the game. * Posted career highs in points (24) and field goals (eight) at San Diego State and made a career-high tying 5-of-7 three-pointers. * Scored 20 points, dished out seven assists and had five steals, without a turnover, against Northwestern. * Had 20 points in only 22 minutes at Loyola Marymount and made 3-of-4 three-pointers and had a career-high two blocks. * Posted 10 assists and 14 points at Washington. * Scored 15 points and had 11 assists against then-No. 5 North Carolina and had 12 assists and five steals vs. UC Santa Barbara. * Earned 1998-99 Pac-10 All-Freshman honorable mention honors.
DAVID BLUTHENTHAL
Sophomore o forward o 6-foot-7 o 220 pounds
* After coming off the bench last year, has earned a starting role in 1999-2000 at small forward. * Scored career-high 20 points vs. Northwestern on 9-of-10 shooting. * Had 19 points (17 in the first half) and nine rebounds at Long Beach State and played all 40 minutes for the first time. * Posted 18 points and a career-high 11 rebounds against Memphis in the Maui Invitational for first career double-double. He shot 9-of-12 in the game. * Scored 17 points (including 4-of-7 on three-pointers) at St. Bonaventure and had career-high four steals at San Diego State. * Fifth in scoring (11.5) and fourth in rebounding (6.2) on the team. * Scored 14 points and had nine rebounds against Utah State in the final game of the Maui Invitational. He averaged a team-high 8.7 rebounds in the tournament and also averaged 12.7 points. * Played in 20 games and averaged 7.6 minutes, 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game as a freshman.
JARVIS TURNER
Senior o forward o 6-foot-8 o 240 pounds
* USC's lone senior, he was fourth on team in rebounding (3.5) in 1998-99 in only 13.1 minutes per game. * Returned from seven-game layoff at Washington State with five points in 14 minutes then played a key defensive role in USC's overtime win at Washington. * Had missed USC's previous seven games recovering from a stress fracture in his foot. He suffered the injury in the preseason but initially tried to play on it. * Started three times last season but has 23 career starts to his credit. * Scored season-high 16 points and had six rebounds against St. Bonaventure last year.
KONSTANTINOS CHARISSIS
Freshman o center o 6-foot-11 o 250 pounds
* A talented big man with a traditional European game, he has challenged for time at center. * Made first career start against Hawai'i and posted highs in points (four), rebounds (six) and minutes (23). * Averaging 1.4 rebounds in 5.8 minutes per game. * Also goes by the first name Kostas. * Was a reserve center on the mid-level Greek club team Papagou-Athens in 1999 and averaged 3.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in limited action.
NATE HAIR
Freshman o guard o 6-foot-3 o 195 pounds
* An athletic guard, Hair has become an oft-used reserve in the Trojans' guard rotation. * Had season-high nine points and season-high five rebounds at Loyola Marymount. * Subbed in for fouled-out Jeff Trepagnier in overtime win at Washington and helped hold Huskies to 1-of-10 shooting in extra frame. * Averaging 2.1 points in 10.9 minutes per game. * Scored first six points of his career at St. Bonaventure, going 2-of-3 on three-pointers, playing season-high 28 minutes. * Missed most of the preseason and both exhibition games recovering from a stress fracture in his knee. * Was a 1999 Street & Smith's All-American honorable mention, an All-Stater Sports 1999 West Regional Dream Team fourth teamer and a 1999 Best in the West and 1999 Orange County Register Fab 15 second team pick as a senior at Capistrano Valley (Calif.) High. * Averaged 15 points and five rebounds his senior year.
RASHAD JONES
Junior o guard o 6-foot-2 o 195 pounds
* A hard-working point guard, he backs up Brandon Granville in the backcourt in his first year as a Trojan. * Played 24 minutes off the bench in USC's 1999-2000 season opener against Cal State Northridge, scoring six points (all on free throws) and grabbing six rebounds to go with two steals. He also played 21 minutes against Memphis and had three rebounds and two points. * Shooting team-best .842 from free throw line (16-of-19). * Averaging 9.4 minutes as a reserve guard. * Averaged 15.7 points, 6.0 assists and 3.1 steals per game in leading the Jaguars to a 19-10 mark as a 1999 sophomore at San Jose (Calif.) City College. He made 50.4 percent of his field goal attempts (120-of-238) and shot 80.1 percent from the foul line (125-of-156).
SANDY FLETCHER
Freshman o guard o 6-foot-3 o 185 pounds
* Redshirted as a true freshman on the football team and began practicing with the basketball team on Dec. 13. He has played 11 minutes in four games. * Made his USC basketball debut in the final minute of the Long Beach State game. Scored his first points with two free throws at San Diego State and played five minutes. He made his first basket at Washington State. * Averaged 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals as a 1999 senior at Inglewood (Calif.) High, earning 1999 All-CIF Division II first team, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay first team, Bay League Co-MVP, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West honorable mention and team MVP honors. * He was a three-year starter at guard at Inglewood. He was also a three-year starter as a receiver and cornerback on the football team and also competed in track and field as a sprinter.
MALACHI THURSTON
Freshman o guard o 6-foot-4 o 200 pounds
* An athletic swingman, he competes for minutes as a reserve in the backcourt. * Made first career start at St. Bonaventure, scoring three points and getting four rebounds. * Played 26 minutes against UC Santa Barbara, grabbing a career-high five rebounds and scoring a career-high four points. * Averaging 6.0 minutes per game. * He averaged 24 points, nine rebounds and three assists last year at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., and earned the William Duryee Award as the top player in the Tri-State League.
LUKE MINOR
Freshman o center o 7-foot-3 o 320 pounds
* USC's tallest player ever, he may redshirt as a true freshman. * Minor averaged 7.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks as 1999 senior at Blue Ride Academy in Dyke, Va., leading his team to a 19-6 mark and an appearance in the state semifinals of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. * He broke the school's season block record with 67 and the career block record with 124. Minor was named Virginia's 10th best prospect by the Roanoke Times.
