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Trojans have big decisions to make

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Times Staff Writer

If USC fans break out the “One more year!” chants this afternoon at the Galen Center, it might be difficult at times to determine the intended target.

Certainly, they will be addressing star freshman O.J. Mayo, a likely lottery pick in the NBA draft should he choose to make himself eligible, but they also could be pleading with sophomore Taj Gibson and freshman Davon Jefferson.

The latter two players are also potential NBA early-entry candidates who could be making their final home appearance when USC plays host to seventh-ranked Stanford.

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Mayo was predictably coy about his intentions when asked Friday after practice.

Asked what factors he was weighing as he determined whether to turn pro, Mayo responded, “No comment. I just have to focus on Stanford.”

Is there a scenario in which he would come back next year?

“Right now I’m taking classes and setting up my schedule for next year probably in a week or so,” Mayo said. “Stanford and school, there’s a lot on my plate right now.”

Gibson recently said there was a “good chance” he could come back next year. Jefferson said last month that he hadn’t given the NBA any thought, though a source close to the player said he intended to make himself available for the draft.

One NBA executive said Friday that Mayo, should he opt to enter the draft, would be selected as high as seventh and no lower than 12th. Gibson would project as a late first-round or early second-round pick, the executive said, depending on how many other underclassmen declared for the draft.

Jefferson’s draft stock is harder to predict.

“He’s got an upside because he’s so athletic,” the executive said. “But I just don’t know where he contributes in the NBA game besides catching a lob once in a while and running the floor. He’s like a mini-Shawn Marion without the toughness. I think he needs to stay” in college.

Don Wetherell, father of sophomore walk-on guard Ryan Wetherell, said he was misquoted in a Wall Street Journal article in which he said USC’s coaching staff told him that singer Romeo Miller was offered a scholarship because of his friendship with prized prospect DeMar DeRozan.

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Don Wetherell said he had heard from other sources that Miller and DeRozan, who will both be freshmen next season at USC, were a package deal, a contention that Coach Tim Floyd has denied.

Nevertheless, Wetherell said his son welcomed Miller even though it meant there would be one fewer available scholarship.

“Sure, my son wishes there was less competition for scholarships, but whether he gets one is not determined by ‘Little Romeo,’ ” Don Wetherell said. “And he thinks it’s going to be fun to have a guy who’s a celebrity on the team.

“Even if [Miller] doesn’t play, he’ll probably sign more autographs than anyone.”

TODAY

vs. No. 7 Stanford, 11 a.m., Ch. 2

Site -- Galen Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- USC 19-10 overall, 10-7 Pacific 10 Conference; Stanford 24-5, 13-4.

Update -- USC can finish as high as third and no worse than fourth in the conference standings. The Trojans would need to defeat Stanford and have Washington upset No. 23 Washington State in Pullman to finish third.

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ben.bolch@latimes.com

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