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Stewart looks for emotional edge in final trip to Seattle

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Times Staff Writer

The Lodrick Stewart Farewell Tour pulls into Seattle tonight one last time.

Washington’s Bank of America Arena has always had special significance for the USC senior guard because he attended nearby Rainier Beach High and strongly considered signing with the Huskies.

As a freshman, Lodrick teamed with twin Rodrick to help the Trojans pull out an 88-80 victory over Washington before a crowd that lustily booed them.

“That was the one game [Coach Henry Bibby] played us together,” Lodrick Stewart said. Rodrick transferred to Kansas before his sophomore season.

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More recently, Washington has dominated USC on its home floor. There was a 99-69 rout in 2005 and an 87-73 triumph last season that wasn’t close.

Stewart hopes playing in front of a large gathering of friends and family members tonight provides an emotional edge. It will be the first time Stewart’s 2-year-old son Jaylin, who lives with his mother in Seattle, has seen his father play in person this season.

“When he sees me on TV, he’ll like run to the TV and try to grab the TV saying, ‘Dadda,’ ” Stewart said. “It’s funny.”

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Also in attendance will be Stewart’s fraternal twin brothers, Hikeem and Kadeem. Stewart said he would try to steer the eighth-graders toward USC if Tim Floyd were still the Trojans’ coach when they’re ready for college.

“They’re going to follow the same steps that we followed,” Stewart said.

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Junior swingman Nick Young has been selected to the All-District 15 first team by the National Assn. of Basketball Coaches for a second consecutive year.

TONIGHT

at Washington, 7

FSN Prime Ticket (9:30)

Site -- Bank of America Arena.

Radio -- 1110.

Records -- USC 21-8 overall, 11-5 Pacific 10 Conference; Washington 16-12, 6-10.

Update -- Washington is 15-2 at home, where the Huskies average 83.9 points.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

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