USC basketball: Source: Star Fordham point guard to transfer to USC

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Former Fordham University point guard Jio Fontan announced he is transferring to USC, a source close to the team confirmed to The Times today.

Fontan visited the Trojans on Saturday when USC beat No. 9 Tennessee, 77-55, and told the team Monday he would transfer there. He had visited USC and Miami and had scheduled visits to Tennessee and Alabama, the source said.

The 6-foot-1 Paterson, N.J., native led Fordham in scoring (15.3 points) as a freshman and was named to the Atlantic-10 conference men’s basketball All-Rookie Team. A sophomore, Fontan played in five games and averaged 15 points and 4.2 assists.

Fontan had tried to transfer from Fordham following the Rams’ 3-25 season last year. He announced he would be leaving the school earlier this month.

He will be on USC’s campus as of Jan. 5 and will be eligible in December 2010 after sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules. He will be the last member of the Trojan’s 2010 recruiting class, the source said.

Known as a combo guard who can score, handle the ball and shoot from three-point range, Fontan is expected to start for USC when he becomes eligible, along with point guard recruit Maurice Jones of Saginaw, Mich.

Fontan was ranked by Scout.com as one of the top 15 high school point guard recruits in 2008.

-- Baxter Holmes