Truth & Rumors > NCAAB

Tar Heel transfer picks USC

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USC's basketball team added an imposing presence to its front line today. Alex Stepheson, a 6-foot-9 junior transfer who played his first two college seasons at North Carolina, will become a Trojan and seek a waiver to gain immediate eligibility. Diane Stepheson said her son would try to obtain a waiver because his father suffers from an undisclosed illness that prompted the move to be closer to the family's Southern California home. NCAA transfer rules typically force transfers to sit out one year. The power forward, who has two seasons of eligibility remaining, also considered UCLA, Arizona State, California and Stanford, his mother said. He had been recruited by the Bruins before picking North Carolina out of North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake High.

Los Angeles Times

Tim Floyd, Stephen Dunn/Getty Images Tim Floyd, Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
August 19, 2008  08:27 AM ET

Cant fault the guy for wanting to be closer to his ailing father.

August 19, 2008  08:47 AM ET

We'll miss him, he was a great contribution to the tarheel basketball team and community. I'm sure he will do well pver at USC. I admire him for doing what's right in this situation.

August 19, 2008  09:06 AM ET

Good luck and Godspeed Alex!

August 19, 2008  09:50 AM ET

Hopefully the NCAA sees it the same way we do for this kid. Don't be surprised if he gets hosed by the NCAA though.

August 19, 2008  11:02 AM ET

Hadnt thought of that AF hopefully they let him go with no BS

August 19, 2008  11:05 AM ET

I doubt they will help the guy out!!! I hope is a great player for the trojans. And they wonder why kids want to skip college all togethor!!!

August 19, 2008  11:06 AM ET

man..what is a kid to do?...family comes first....the NCAA should do the right thing here.

August 19, 2008  11:14 AM ET

The NCAA should waive this and let him play.

August 19, 2008  11:27 AM ET

I admire the kids maturity and his desire to do the right thing. I do believe that the NCAA will deny him. Sometimes common sense isn't so common.

August 19, 2008  11:43 AM ET

Looks like keeping your grades up at USC is easier than at UNC!

August 19, 2008  11:45 AM ET

right - just ask J.R. Reid

August 19, 2008  12:26 PM ET

You gotta say that Tim Floyd is doing a great job bringing in the talent.... now if he can just keep a team together for a couple of years, they could actually win something.....

August 19, 2008  12:58 PM ET

Hopefully he can be allowed to play this season because of the family illness.

August 19, 2008  01:14 PM ET

I believe the NCAA will allow him to transfer due to them already doing this. Tyler Smith was allowed to transfer from Iowa to Tennessee last year because his father was very ill. So they have already set a standard for this type of a reason.

August 19, 2008  02:25 PM ET

Welcome Alex, Fight On!

August 19, 2008  02:28 PM ET

Welcome Alex, Fight On!

August 19, 2008  05:03 PM ET

He'll take the spot left open by Davon Jefferson.

What a difference a year makes?

One year ago, Davon Jefferson could and should have stayed at USC.
And now, he will most likely play in the D-League for the Los Angeles D-Fenders

Eric
www.formertrojans.com

August 19, 2008  07:06 PM ET

Alex, good luck with your career and good on you for doing the right thing. As a Heels fan, I will miss him, but best of wishes.

August 19, 2008  09:03 PM ET

They better let him play. That would be a travesty for someone as thoughtful as him to get hosed by the National Socialist Collegic Athletic Association.

 
August 20, 2008  10:29 AM ET

I hate to hear that his father is not doing well; hopefully the trnasfer to USC will be of great benefit to his family.

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