Inglewood Cage Star Picks USC at Last Minute

Inglewood High forward Harold Miner, The Times’ South Bay player of the year last season, signed a basketball letter of intent with USC Wednesday night, two hours before the deadline for early signings.

Originally, the 6-5 senior did not have USC high on his list. That changed when UCLA, another school Miner was considering, signed 6-5 Mitchell Butler of Oakwood High. Like Miner, Butler is a shooting guard.

“It didn’t really scare me off, but it might have had something to do with my decision,” Miner said of Butler’s commitment.

Miner’s first choice was North Carolina, but it stopped recruiting him after Tar Heel assistant coach Roy Williams, who had recruited Miner, became head coach at Kansas.

Miner said he stopped considering Kansas after the Jayhawks were hit with probation.

Twins Heather and Heidi Burge, 6-5 post players for defending CIF 3-A girls basketball champion Palos Verdes, have signed with Virginia.