USC Baseball: Trojans Take Two of Three in Utah by Evan Budrovich

USA TODAY Sports

New USC basketball coach Andy Enfield has to find a point guard to replace the hole left by the departure of Jio Fontan, who was a graduating redshirt-senior with the Trojans in 2013. One option is with transfer Pe’Shon Howard, who has played the last three years with Maryland.

The soon-to-be senior point guard is looking to transfer to a school in Los Angeles, his hometown, as he seeks a hardship waiver due to an ailing grandmother. According to Josh Gershon of Fox Sports, Howard will officially visit USC today, in what will be his first post-Maryland visit.

Howard left Los Angeles to play high school basketball at the national powerhouse Oak Hill Academy, following in the footsteps of NBA stars such as Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Rajon Rondo and Jerry Stackhouse. At Oak Hill, Howard made history by being the first sophomore to ever earn a starting job at the famed high school program.

Maryland signed Howard in the Class of 2010. He made his biggest contribution for the Terps in the 2011-2012 season, when he averaged 6.5 points per game as a starting point guard in his sophomore season, despite being limited to just 14 games due to injury.

In a January 2012 loss to Temple, Howard scored a career high 15 points, while his career best night in assists came early in junior season, as he racked up 13 dimes in a tilt with LIU-Brooklyn.

“Coming into his junior season at Maryland, Howard was named the started but unfortunately struggled quite a bit,” said Terrapin Station MD editor Michael Willis in a recent article.

“He finished the year averaging 3.3 points and 3.6 assists, but oftentimes found himself on the bench due to turnovers and an inability to hit shots. Howard was suspended one game this year for a violation of team policy, as well.”

Should Howard ultimately choose USC, he would be yet another ACC transfer to play for the Trojans, along with returning players J.T. Terrell and Ari Stewart, who both came to USC by way of Wake Forest.

Walk-on and Presidential scholar Chass Bryan is currently projected to be the Trojans’ starting point guard in 2013-2014, with fellow sophomore Brendyn Taylor capable of playing the one, as well.