USC basketball: Dwayne Polee tenders resignation as Trojans’ director of basketball operations

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Dwayne Polee, who since 2007 has been USC’s director of basketball operations, turned in his resignation last week, and his departure from the program should become official later this week, sources close to the situation confirmed Monday with The Times.

The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because Polee’s resignation has not been officially announced. Reached by phone, Polee declined to comment further. The sources said the decision to leave was solely Polee’s and that he was ‘leaving on his own terms.’

Polee’s decision to resign comes shortly before his son, Westchester High star Dwayne Polee Jr., who is one of the nation’s top basketball recruits, is expected to announce his college decision. Polee Sr. said late last week that his son’s choices were between St. John’s, Oregon and Georgia. His deadline for choosing is May 19, the final day of the spring signing period.

Polee Sr. was hired in the summer of 2007 by then-USC Coach Tim Floyd, a move that many speculated was tied to the recruiting of Polee Jr., who committed to the Trojans as a freshman in high school.

Floyd said then that he hired Polee Sr. not for that reason but ‘because I think he’s more qualified than 90% of the assistants that come into college basketball, based on his playing experience and what he can bring to the table for us at ‘SC through his contacts in the area.’

Polee Sr. was a former standout at Los Angeles’ Manuel Arts High and led the Toilers to the 1981 City championship by scoring 43 points in a 82-69 victory over Crenshaw. He played for Nevada Las Vegas and then Pepperdine before being drafted by the Clippers in the third round of the 1986 NBA draft. He played only one game for the Clippers, which was the extent of his NBA career.

-- Baxter Holmes