New USC basketball Coach Kevin O'Neill deserves to get a high-five from his assistants because Corona Centennial junior point guard Gelaun Wheelwright announced Wednesday he has committed to the Trojans.
Wheelwright is the first new recruit since O'Neill was hired to replaced Tim Floyd. He averaged 18.5 points last season as a 6-foot sophomore. And Wheelwright is apparently not afraid of potential NCAA sanctions against the Trojans if violations are found involving former Trojans guard O.J. Mayo.
"It came down to they really wanted him," Centennial Coach Josh Giles said. "Whatever issues USC might have Gelaun feels will be done by the time he's there."
-- Eric Sondheimer
Photo: Corona Centennial's Gelaun Wheelwright. Photo credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times
USC quarterback Mitch Mustain has resolved an academic issue and is eligible for the coming season, Coach Pete Carroll said.
"It's been resolved," said Carroll, whose team reports for training camp Aug. 7.
Carroll had confirmed last week that Mustain, a fourth-year junior, was dealing with unspecified academic matters that could have jeopardized his eligibility. The Trojans open the season against San Jose State on Sept. 5.
Mustain could not be reached for comment.
Mustain finished spring practice third on the depth chart behind sophomore Aaron Corp and freshman Matt Barkley.
USC finished in fourth place in the 2008-2009 Director's Cup standings, the school's best finish since the ranking system started in 1993. The National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors (NACDA), Learfield Sports and USA Today compile the standings, which rank a school's athletic program based on how all of its teams finish each year.
Stanford finished first for the 15th straight time, followed by North Carolina and Florida. USC's previous high rank was fifth, in 2006-2007.
"That success is a reflection of the hard work put in by all of our student-athletes and coaches," USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett said in a press release. "They are to be congratulated."
USC won two NCAA championships this past school year, in men's tennis and men's water polo.
-- Bill Brink
Photo: USC athletic director Mike Garrett, left, introduces new Trojan basketball coach Kevin O'Neill. Photo Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times.
There are fake Twitter accounts ... and then there are real fake Twitter accounts.
Go to fakecoachsark on Twitter for an example of the latter.
We don't know exactly who might be posting the "tweets" under fakecoachsark, but we're thinking it's definitely not University of Washington football coach Steve Sarkisian or anyone close to him.
That said, whomever concocted the spoof isn't being too outlandish and at least you can easily tell that it's supposed to be a joke.
In fact, it's pretty funny -- unless you're a U-dub fan.
--Mike Hiserman
Photo: Steve Sarkisian. Photo credit: Stephen Brashear / Associated Press.
Adrian Peterson is a Pro Bowl running back for the Minnesota Vikings, but when he looks back at his college career he still has two major regrets.
And USC is involved in both.
In 2004, Peterson ran for an NCAA freshman record 1,925 yards for the Oklahoma Sooners, becoming the first freshman to place second in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
"When I look back, I had an outstanding [college] career," Peterson said in a story published today by the Associated Press. "There were some things that -- a national championship, I didn't accomplish that. I fell short. I had the opportunity my freshman year, and I don't even want to talk about that."
In that game he didn't want to talk about, USC held Peterson to 82 yards rushing in 25 carries, with a long gain of nine yards.
Peterson said he longed for a Heisman when, during a visit to Reggie Bush's home in L.A., he found himself gazing at Bush's Heisman. "I was like, 'Awww!' I wanted to ask him where Matt Leinart was so I could go over there and take mine. But it's all good. It is what it is."
Developer Ed Roski hopes to build an NFL stadium in City of Industry and own at least a part of one of the league's 32 franchises. In the meantime, he will be honored by the L.A. Sports & Entertainment Commission at its seventh annual NFL 101/201 event July 13 at the Coliseum.
Roski, chairman and chief executive of Majestic Realty Co., will be presented with the LASEC Community Sportsman of the Year award, established to honor someone who "continually contributes to our community."
There is a definite quarterback theme to this year's event, which features panelists who either play or played the position in the NFL: Trent Dilfer, Warren Moon, Joe Theismann and Carson Palmer.
Participating in and coaching the on-field activities for NFL 101/201 guests are current players Nnamdi Asomugha and Justin Fargas of the Raiders; Dashon Goldson of the 49ers; Jordan Palmer of the Bengals; Shaun Phillips of the Chargers; and former players Calvin Sweeney and Michael Young.
Sponsors and ticket buyers include men and women in the business, entertainment and sports industries, along with the media. Wolfgang Puck is the Presenting Sponsor for this year’s event. Several levels of participation are available, starting at $5,000 for a table of 10. Additionally, individual tickets are available for $500 apiece.
For additional information about NFL 101/201, contact Aubrey Walton at (213) 236-2347 or e-mail her at awalton@lasec.us.
Michael Jordan's son, Jeff, has left the University of Illinois basketball team, saying in a statement that he wanted to focus on his studies.
"I loved playing for the Fighting Illini and appreciate the support I was given by my teammates, coaches and the great fans here," Jeff Jordan said. "But I have come to the point where I'm ready to focus on life after basketball."
Jordan came to Illinois as a walk-on, but was put on scholarship for the spring semester this year. He played in 59 games over two seasons, scoring 58 points.
Only a few months ago, Illini Coach Bruce Weber praised Jordan's defense and said the 6-foot-1 guard had a chance to earn more playing time next season.
Can he play point guard? USC has a few roster spots open...
USC quarterback Mitch Mustain is attempting to resolve academic issues that could affect his eligibility for the coming season, Coach Pete Carroll confirmed Monday.
Carroll would not specify the issues and said there was "no timeline" or deadline for Mustain to resolve them. The Trojans report for training camp Aug. 7 and open their season Sept. 5 against San Jose State.
Asked if Mustain would be eligible if USC played tomorrow, Carroll said, "We don't have a game tomorrow." Mustain could not be reached for comment.
Mustain, a fourth-year junior who transferred to USC from Arkansas in 2007, finished spring practice third on the depth chart behind sophomore Aaron Corp and freshman Matt Barkley.
Mustain has said he would not consider transferring and that he's close to graduating from USC. If Mustain were ineligible, senior Garrett Green would become the No. 3 quarterback.
Mustain left Arkansas after a tumultuous 2006 season during which he went 8-0 as a freshman starter. He had hoped to challenge Mark Sanchez to become the Trojans starter in 2008, but he spent most of the season as a back-up and was third on the depth chart behind Sanchez and Corp for the Rose Bowl last January.
Sanchez's departure for the NFL created a spring practice competition to become his successor. Corp played nearly error free, and Barkley showed uncommon arm strength and poise for a first-year player, leaving Mustain third.
-- Gary Klein
Photo: Quarterback Mitch Mustain goes through the paces during spring practice at USC. Credit: Kirby Lee / US Presswire
Newly introduced USC basketball Coach Kevin O'Neill spoke on Monday about former Trojans star O.J. Mayo. The two spent last season together with the Memphis Grizzlies but didn't talk much about college hoops.
"We would bust each other up about 'SC and Arizona, 'We beat you there,' " he recalled. "The thing that O.J. was always very, very, very adamant about was that it was a great experience. He enjoyed being here, he enjoyed the people that were here, he enjoyed playing for Tim [Floyd]. I heard nothing but good things about USC from O.J."
Otherwise, O'Neill insisted that they only talked about Grizzlies basketball.
O'Neill didn't speak with Mayo about his new job, either. "You don't reach pro guys in the off-season," he quipped.
Asked how short-term players might fit into his program at USC, O'Neill said that it's a part of the deal. "I think you have to recruit those guys. They're great players. It's important that you recruit guys that can help you win. Those guys are part of the basketball culture."
O'Neill's experience with short-term stars is limited to Jerryd Bayless at Arizona. "He was a great player, a great contributor to the program, and a great guy to coach," he reflected before adding, "You also need to recruit some program players, too -- guys that are there for four years."
-- Adam Rose
Photo: Kevin O'Neill after a news conference introducing him as USC's new men's basketball coach. He worked for one year in the NBA with former Trojans star O.J. Mayo. Credit: Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times.
In case you were wondering whether USC might be done recruiting one-and-done basketball talent, new coach Kevin O'Neill made it clear today at his introductory news conference that the Trojans would stay in the market.
"I think you have to recruit those guys," O'Neill said. "They're great players. It's important that you recruit guys that can help you win. Those guys are part of the basketball culture. Sure, we're going to recruit them."
USC had a one-and-done each of the last two seasons. O.J. Mayo was the first, becoming a 2008 lottery pick and leaving behind an NCAA investigation. DeMar DeRozan was next, his performance helping the Trojans during a late-season surge that resulted in a Pacific 10 Conference tournament title and school-record third consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament. DeRozan is expected to go in the first 10 picks of the NBA's draft Thursday.
O'Neill implied that he would harbor no ill will toward a player who uses his program as a quick steppingstone.
"I coached Jerryd Bayless [at Arizona]," O'Neill said. "He was a great player and a great contributor to the program and a great guy to coach. They're part of it. You also need to recruit some program players too -- guys that are there for four years."
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