Boys' basketball: USC has good one in Evan Smith
Evan Smith of Calabasas has been a long-time USC commit, and even though he won't rank among the best players in the nation, he's going to be a good recruit for the Trojans because he plays hard, knows basketball and can score.
The 6-foot-7 Smith was the best player on display this past weekend at the Crespi tournament won by the host Celts. And Smith wasn't exactly 100%, suffering from a shoulder injury.
Yes, he sometimes has an attitude, which is no surprise because his father, Gavin, was one of the most fierce competitors during his days at Van Nuys and UCLA. But he seems to like his teammates, passes the ball well and doesn't like to lose. Unfortunately, he'll be playing for this third high school coach in the last four years. Former Calabasas coach Jim Nielsen has left for Long Beach Cabrillo, and the Coyotes are in the process of finding a new coach.
It's about time that USC went for a player who might stick around more than a year and improve than go for the high-profile recruit who only cares about building up an NBA resume. Smith will arrive in 2009, and he should be a solid, dependable contributor.
-- Eric Sondheimer
