USC’s Gibson to return for junior season

USC sophomore forward Taj Gibson has decided to return for his junior season, his father, Wilbert Gibson, said today.

“He’s not going anywhere,” Wilbert Gibson said. “He’ll be right at USC next year.”

Wilbert Gibson said his son reached the decision after conferring with family members during a visit home to Brooklyn, N.Y.

“It was a family decision,” Wilbert Gibson said. “He gave it a lot of thought, but we feel we’ve made the right decision for him to stay in school.”

Gibson, 6 feet 9 and 225 pounds, led the Pacific 10 Conference with 2.55 blocks per game last season and was the Trojans’ leading rebounder and third-leading scorer, averaging 7.8 rebounds and 10.8 points per game.

In one sense, losing Gibson might have been a potentially more devastating blow to USC than the loss of freshman guard O.J. Mayo because the Trojans will replace Mayo next season with Compton High standout DeMar DeRozan, another elite wing prospect. Mayo announced earlier this month that he would hire an agent and enter the draft.

Gibson’s departure would have left USC woefully thin inside, especially if freshman forward Davon Jefferson declares for the draft. Jefferson has not announced his intentions but has until 9 p.m. Sunday should he wish to declare for the draft.

ben.bolch@latimes.com