Mixed News for USC Hoops Fans

Taj Gibson's father, Wilbert, told L.A. Times reporter Ben Bolch that the USC forward will return for his junior season. Click here for the full story.

Fox Sports is reporting that Davon Jefferson is entering the NBA draft and will hire Arn Tellem as an agent. That's about all to the story right now. Draft Express has him going 5th in the second round, and NBADraft.net will probably update its list on Monday (it currently has him going in 2009).

Though the losses of O.J. Mayo (who declared a few weeks ago) and Jefferson will be tough, retaining Gibson is huge for the basketball team -- literally. At 6'10", he's the largest and most physical of USC's experienced players. Had he left for the NBA, you might have seen a lot of small lineups and some fast-paced ball. If he keeps on pace, Gibson could leave USC on top of the school's career blocked-shot list.

Comments

[GMoney]

It's surprising that Gibson is returning since he's already almost 23 and the additional year probably won't dramatically affect his draft projection. Jefferson should have stayed, Gibson should have gone.

[TrojanFan]

Why should GIbson go? He's doing well in school and he's not projected as a first rounder by anyone? Why not try to get a free education and improve your draft status? 2008 is weak on big men and Taj's numbers will look a lot better since a lot of the Pac-10 big men are leaving. If Gibson adds 5-10 pounds and is more consistently offensively, he can play his way into the first round. And yes that is possible to do in one year and many guys have done it. Aaron Affalo became a first rounder after one more year of college. Gibson is extremely athletic and has not reach his potential just yet. Good thing he's smarter than Gmoney.

Gibson will be getting a free education next year and working himself into the first round, while Jefferson is in the D-league making 12,000 dollars a year.

[pk-in-the-mesa]

Whoever told Devon that he should declare is out of there mind this not only needs one more year but maybe two, at his present wieght is not a PF and if he is a SF needs to work on a shot from 15-19ft. Taj is moving along okay and will be a solid player in the NBA.

[KingKongTroy]

Potential Trojans of the future will display their skills this weekend at the Galen Center. I know Renardo Sidney and Jordan Hamilton are two top recruits USC is chasing. They also have a 3-on-3 that fans can partake in. I'll be enjoying that as well, but the local Trojan fans might want to get a glimpse of what we could look like on the court in 2010.