usc commits

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

USC Gets Two Big Commitments
Over The Weekend--(Sept. 4, 2001)

USC had one player visiting this weekend, Curtis Withers (6'-8" Sr. PF) from West Charlotte HS, in Charlotte, North Carolina. No word yet on how that one went.

But over the weekend, both Clark Francis of the HoopScoop online and Dinos Trigonis of Fullcourt Press reported that USC received two other verbal commitments from two big men, both of whom will play at Ventura JC this season.

The Trojans have reportedly received commitments (through the work of assistant coach Kurtis Townsend) from Jonathan Oliver (6'-11" So. PF/C) and Jack Wolfinger (6'-11" So. F/C). According to Clark Francis:

"Oliver's game is inside and Wolfinger likes to drift out on the perimeter where he can beat you with his 3-point shooting. Neither player was ranked that high coming out of high school, but Oliver showed a lot of promise during the 1997-98 season while playing for Max Good at Pittsfield (Maine Central Institute) ME. As a result, Oliver signed with West Virginia, but only averaged 1.7 ppg and 1.1 rpg as a freshman and 1.0 ppg and 1.3 rpg as sophomore for the Mountaineers during the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons." ****

[***updated Tues, 9/4/01 at 5:20 p.m. ---It appears that Clark is talking about different John Oliver than the player who committed to USC. There is also a player named "John Oliver", a 6'-9" F who will be a senior at West Virginia this year, who is currently listed on the Mountaineers' 2001-02 roster and who played for Gale Catlett throughout the 2000-2001 season....the Jonathan Oliver who committed to USC is a different player---SoCalHoops].

Clark also added some other insights into Oliver's game, and his prospects for longetivity as a Trojan [again, see the note above re: a different John Oliver]:

We don't know where Oliver was last season, but it really doesn't matter, because the clock is already running. Remember, when you sign with a four-year school, you have five years to play four. And this will be his fourth year, which means he will only be able to play one season at USC.

As for Wolfinger, Clark added:

"Wolfinger came out a year later when he signed at St. John's. So this will his third year of college and, as a result, he should be able to play two years for the Trojans. How good Oliver and Wolfinger right now is anybody's guess? But both have Big East experience and quality big men in this class are few and far between."

We're not sure what to make of these new guys, or the thinking behind getting them, but one thing is certain: The Trojans are looking for ways to replace Brian Scalabrine's productivity, and are equally worried about what will happen when David Bluthenthal graduates this year. The coaches are obviously concerned about Charissis' ability to play and his eligibility problems, and they also believe that Rory O'Neil (6'-11" Fr. F), and Nicholas Curtis (6'-8" Fr. F), both incoming freshmen this season, cannot get it done all by themselves, no matter how talented they may be nor how much upside they project to have.