USD Got Early Jump on Freshman Talent : Basketball: Toreros are upbeat about the potential of their newest recruiting class.

A season in which to reflect on its crop of preseason recruits hasn’t diminished the enthusiasm at the University of San Diego, where the basketball staff continues to say it will bring in the best recruiting class in a decade.

The first day of the spring signing period came Wednesday without any new recruits for USD, but Coach Hank Egan’s staff is in no big hurry to use up its final scholarship.

Egan has to replace one of the school’s best senior groups, including two-time all-West Coast Conference forward Kelvin Woods and four-year starting guard Wayman Strickland, the WCC’s career leader in three-point shooting percentage.

In the fall, Egan signed forwards Brian Bruso and Sean Flannery, guards David Fizdale and Val Hill and center Rocco Raffo. All had successful senior seasons and stayed remarkably healthy, each player starting every game his team played.

The quintet also played on successful teams and bring winning expectations to Alcala Park. The Toreros, who had offensive problems last season, struggled to a 14-14 record and were 6-8 in the WCC, finishing fifth in the eight-team league.

“We like the recruits we have,” Egan said Wednesday. “It’s definitely the best group since I’ve been here.”

As per preseason forecasts, the 6-foot-7 Flannery, out of Salpointe Catholic High in Tucson, lived up to his billing as one of the top recruits ever enlisted at USD. The No. 2 career scorer in Arizona history with 2,332 points, Flannery averaged 22.3 points as a senior and was named Arizona player of the year. He was a four-time all-city selection playing for his father, Jim Flannery, and averaged 22.6 points for his high school career. Flannery, whose strength is outside shooting, led Salpointe to a 26-6 record and an appearance in the state 5-A quarterfinals.

Another Tucson recruit, Hill, earned all-state honorable mention at Tucson High, where he was a four-year starter. As a 6-4 swing man, Hill averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. The left-hander was an 80% free-throw shooter. The powerfully built Hill bench presses more than 300 pounds.

Fizdale, a 6-2 point guard, helped lead Fremont High to a 31-4 record and a second consecutive Los Angeles City 3-A championship. Fizdale averaged 7.1 points and five assists and made 48.6% of his three-point attempts. He twice had season highs of 15 assists and was a first-team all-league selection.

Bruso, 6-7, led South Lake Tahoe High to a 30-1 record and a Nevada state championship, averaging 21.6 points and 14 rebounds. He shot 64%. The first-team all-state selection was a teammate of USD sophomore center Chris Grant in 1990.

At 6-9, Raffo will join starting center Brooks Barnhard as the team’s tallest players. Raffo got 15 points and 11 rebounds a game for Salinas High, shooting 53% from the field. The two-time all-league selection was Monterey Bay League most valuable player as a junior. If he has an obvious weakness, it was 62.5% shooting from the foul line.

Egan and his staff are still beating the recruiting bushes, but will not give a scholarship just to fill the roster. Along with the five freshmen, the Toreros will also have redshirt guard Doug Harris, a transfer from Fresno State who will have sophomore eligibility. He’ll join a lineup that includes returning starters Barnhard, forward Gylan Dottin and point guard Geoff Probst. Grant (6-8) figures to move into the other starting forward spot.

“We have one (scholarship) to give, but we’re looking for a particular kind of guy--a big guy, or a shooter who can cover somebody,” Egan said.

“We’re still in the hunt but . . . mostly for height. We’re happy with what we’ve got.”