Russ Smith

Looking good for ASU's chances. Rivals is reporting ASU and Cal lead for Alex.
and a couple of insiders on Scout are reporting it's down to ASU and USC. So obviously nobody knows for sure but ASU is the one team both reports have in common.

The guys on the UCLA site think UCLA is essentially out they think Alex has already told Howland he won't be a Bruin.

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HooverDam

I really hope ASU can land this kid. Herbs done a terrific job landing talented guards, but ASU is still very thin up front. Getting Stephenson would be huge, especially with Pendy graduating after this year, having only Boateng and an unproven Taylor Rhode up front next year would make me a little nervous.

Russ Smith

LA Daily News is reporting Stepheson will go to USC. Doesn't quote Alex directly just sources but says he informed USC he's coming and it's expected he won't get the waiver and would have to sit out the season. USC doesn't have a scholarship but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a player magically decide to transfer so they can give one to Alex.

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MaoTosiFanClub

Nor should he get the waiver, it's fairly obvious he transferred for PT if he considered ASU and Cal.

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Addressing the Core by Rod Graves:

1. Re-sign Calvin Pace (Miss)
2. Negotiate Extension with Dansby (Miss #2)
3. Re-structure Fitzgerald (TBD)

Mulli

Of course he isn't going to ASU. Bigs like him rarely rarely rarely do.

Russ Smith

Agreed, and I'm betting he won't have to pay this year I expect Romeo Miller will decide to give up his scholarship now. I've said all along he'll eventually do that I just figured he'd do it after one season but with Alex transferring in I am guessing he'll get Miller's ride unless someone like Marcus Simmons decides (with a push) to leave SC.

As soon as Alex started looking at schools not that close to home his chance of getting that waiver was gone. Both his mom and sister graduated from USC so I guess it's not a shock he picked them although if they wind up on probation over Mayo he may regret his decision.

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Mr. Boldin

Wont they have a scholarship available after the Derozan situation works its way out? I havent looked at Sc's 09 class, but I would assume they would have one available and Miller shouldnt be on scholarship anyway so....

Russ Smith

They don't have a ride this year though. Transfers are typically given a scholarship while they sit out a year, USC doesn't have one so Stepheson will have to pay his own way this year whether he's sitting, or gets the waiver to play. The only way around that is someone transfers or gives up their ride.

IF somehow the NCAA grants the waiver look out for USC, they're already pretty talented top to bottom if you give them a legit big like Alex to play alongside Gibson and play some C and they'd probably be my preseason pick to win the whole Pac 10. They have a lot of depth this year but their main issue is no proven backup for Gibson, if Alex is allowed to play this year that weakness goes away.

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Russ Smith

His mom told the Press Telegram that the report is untrue he's not decided yet its' between USC, ASU and UCLA. most UCLA fans think we're essentially third if not out of the running for him.
Edit: my guess is this means he has picked USC but doesn't have a scholarship yet and they have to take care of that before they announce officially AS to USC. I'm guessing Wolf's initial story was leaked to him by someone who wasn't supposed to leak it yet because they didn't want to make it obvious that someone lost their scholarship so Stephenson could get one.

I'm betting that someone is Lil Romeo.

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