Alex Stepheson is headed to USC basketball team

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.

Stepheson averaged 4.3 points and 4.5 rebounds last season for the Tar Heels, who advanced to the Final Four before losing to Kansas. He shot 53.9% from the field and averaged 14.5 minutes a game.

If Stepheson is granted immediate eligibility, he would help offset the loss of 6-8 forward Davon Jefferson, who declared for the NBA draft following his freshman season but was not selected.

A scholarship for Stepheson became available at USC when reserve guard Angelo Johnson transferred out earlier this month.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com