USC’s Daniel Hackett has Kobe-like experience at Pac-10 tournament

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USC was given the Lakers’ locker room for its Pacific 10 Conference tournament game Thursday. So guard Daniel Hackett made a dive-to-the-hoop move to get Kobe Bryant‘s locker.

‘I knew where Kobe’s locker was, so as soon as they let us in I ran over here,’ Hackett said. ‘It’s only right.’

Sure. Hackett was born in Italy. Bryant moved there with his family when he was 6. Both have fathers who played professionally in Italy. Both are big guards, who have the ball in their hands throughout the game.

Hackett even did his best to put up Kobe-like numbers in a 79-75 victory over California. He had 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Hackett was disappointed by one thing.

‘I looked around to see if he left some new sneakers here, but didn’t find any,’ Hackett joked.

--Chris Foster