USC men’s basketball roster

Baxter Holmes’ comments on USC’s roster for 2010-11 (statistics are from last season):

No./NAME/YR/HT/PPG/RPG/APG/COMMENT

Starters

5/Nikola Vucevic/Jr./6-10/10.7/9.4/1.2/Pac-10’s top returning rebounder is key to USC’s success.

1/Alex Stepheson/Sr./6-10/8.4/7.2/0.3/Powerful and athletic but foul-prone and limited offensively.

43/Marcus Simmons/Sr./6-6/3.0/2.0/0.8/A shut-down defender with a decent mid-range jumper.

15/Bryce Jones/Fr./6-5/--/--/--/Long and fast with ability to soar and score from long range.

10/Maurice Jones/Fr./5-7/--/--/--/Quick and smart; will lead USC’s up-tempo offense.

Reserves

2/Jio Fontan*/Jr./6-0/15.0/2.2/4.2/Fordham transfer will start once eligible in December.

3/James Dunleavy/Jr./6-6/0/2.0/0/Son of former Clippers coach, his shooting could help.

4/Tyler Sugiyama/Fr./5-10/--/--/--/It’s highly unlikely this second-year walk-on sees much floor time.

14/Donte Smith/Sr./5-11/3.8/1.1/1.0/Streaky three-point shooter, strong defender, key sixth man.

20/Eric Strangis/Jr./6-4/--/--/--/Crescenta Valley High walk-on should strengthen scout team.

21/Aaron Fuller/Jr./6-6/9.7/6.2/0.7/Iowa transfer won’t be eligible until next season.

22/Evan Smith/So./6-7/1.9/1.1/0.6/Only remaining recruit from 2009 is an accurate three-point shooter.

33/Garrett Jackson/Fr./6-7/--/--/--/Intriguingly athletic, above-average shooter; could be impact freshman behind Jones.

35/Daniel Munoz/So./5-10/--/--/--/Walk-on probably spends another year on the bench.

42/Curtis Washington/Fr./6-10/--/--/--/Quit high school team as a senior; provides frontline depth.

*— Stats from Fordham University.

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