Following news of USC men's basketball coach Tim Floyd's resignation earlier today, speculation among college coaches immediately turned to who might replace him at the Trojans' helm.
Jamie Dixon (Pittburgh), who grew up in the San Fernando Valley and graduated from Notre Dame High in Sherman Oaks, is expected to be the Trojans' first choice, although several of his peers are divided as to what Dixon's decision might be.
Dixon worked with (at UC Santa Barbara) and for (at Northern Arizona and Pitt) Ben Howland is still extremely close to the now-UCLA head coach. Dixon going to USC would certainly cause an interesting dynamic in that relationship and within the conference.
But coaches were also intrigued about what a couple of current high school players who have signed letters of intent with the Trojans (6-foot-7 Derrick Williams of La Mirada and 5-11 Lamont Jones of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va.) might opt to do.
If they request, and are granted, releases from their USC letters of intent, they will have a multitude of options -- some of which could reside within the Pacific 10 Conference that USC is a member of.
And don't be surprised when current high school juniors, 6-7 Dwayne Polee Jr. (Westchester) and 6-2 Gary Franklin (Mater Dei), announced that they are withdrawing the "commitments" they made to Floyd and his staff (Polee as a high school freshman and Franklin as a sophomore).
There is nothing binding either to USC, since players can't sign letters of intent until November of their senior years.
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