I was talking with USC assistant coach Gib Arnold about sophomore forward Nikola Vucevic’s pro potential and suggested that speaking three languages - Serbian, French and English - was a nice thing to have on his résumé .
“He speaks rebounds and 3-point shooting, too,” Arnold said. “That also will help him out.”
I didn’t get into Vucevic’s pro prospects in this feature, which focuses on his learning how to work and play hard all the time.
Arnold likes Vucevic’s chances.
New USC basketball coach Kevin O’Neill will retain Tim Floyd’s assistants, according to ESPN.com. Keeping Phil Johnson, Gib Arnold and Bob Cantu aboard would be a positive move to maintain some of the continuity that was lost this spring.
Meanwhile, the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reports that one-time USC commit Derrick Williams is joining the mass exodus of would-be Trojans to Arizona.
Guard Gary Franklin of Mater Dei High committed to USC on Monday night.
Franklin, a 6-foot-3 guard, will be a junior at Mater Dei this year.
Also Monday night, assistant coach Gib Arnold, USC’s ace recruiter, served as host for forward De’Andre Daniels of Taft High of Woodland Hills. Daniels is a 6-foot-8 junior transfer about to start his first season at Taft.
The basketball team played its first exhibition game Monday. Kasey Cunningham was among the standouts.
