USC’s Alex Stepheson plays a waiting game

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With the first USC basketball practice scheduled for Oct. 17, forward Alex Stepheson is still waiting to hear from the NCAA about his eligibility for the coming season.

Stepheson transferred from North Carolina and normally would have to sit out a year, but he has applied for a waiver because his father suffers from an undisclosed illness that prompted the former Harvard-Westlake star’s desire to be closer to home.

‘Hopefully I’ll find out in the next week,’ Stepheson said as he headed into a training session with teammates at the Galen Center on Wednesday. ‘I’m keeping my fingers crossed.’

The 6-9 junior would compliment returning forward Taj Gibson on USC’s front line.

‘I definitely think I’ll be able to help out,’ he said. ‘Make us better in the paint, make the post presence stronger.’

-- David Wharton