Camp Notes
USC coach Tim Floyd’s basketball camp featured about 100 players this weekend. An unexpected visitor was former interim coach Jim Saia, who interviews Monday for the Fresno City College job.
Ironically, Saia and new USC baseball coach Chad Kreuter grew up together in Marin County and attended the same middle school. Here’s some observations from the camp:
Also stopping by was Minnesota Timberwolves guard Marko Jaric, whose younger brother, Nikola, was in the camp.
One of the counselors was former Indiana basketball player Neil Reed, probably best known for alleging he was choked by former coach Bob Knight. Reed’s father, Terry, a former assistant at New Orleans for Floyd, was also a counselor.
Maybe the most interesting scene occurred well after midnight Saturday as Floyd and Terry Reed taught a small group of campers some press-break drills.
An intriguing player was Kyle Austin from Pasadena High, who graduates this month but is just 16 years old and talking to several colleges for the fall, including USC and Texas El-Paso.
Center Mamadou Diarra of Stoneridge Prep, who is expected to commit to USC, attended the camp.
Another player that impressed observers was 6-10 senior center Clint Chapman, who is being recruited by Cal and Oregon, but was watched for several games by USC coach Tim Floyd. Shooting guard Demar DeRozan of Compton also drew plenty of looks.
Artesia senior guard James Harden attended the camp and remains one of USC’s top targets, although Arizona State might have the inside track after hiring his high school coach, Scott Pera.
Riverside North sophomore point guard Malcolm Lee, who grew about five inches since being at last year’s camp, will be one of the USC’s biggest targets in his class.
Zane Johnson, a 6-7 guard/forward, stood out early, hitting about every shot for a 1½ games, before cooling off. He might make his decision in the next two weeks although he has not been offered a scholarship by his No. 1 choice, Arizona.

Comments
Way to go, Scott!
Thanks for the great info.
Trojan43
Posted by: Ray | June 19, 2006 09:02 AM
SC has a basketball team?
Posted by: Arty | June 20, 2006 05:13 PM