Dupree to Learn His Status Soon

With his judgment day fast approaching, USC junior Jerry Dupree’s teammates are holding out hope that the high-flying forward did well enough on his finals to warrant his return to the Trojans.

“We talk about it because we’re excited to get him back,” USC captain Robert Hutchinson said. “He’s a big impact player, very versatile and plays a lot of positions. And we need somebody to come off the bench to give us that lift sometimes.”

Sophomore center Rory O’Neil agreed.

“We need him,” O’Neil said. “We could use him, another big man in there blocking shots, getting rebounds, athletic, running the floor. If he comes back, that’s absolutely awesome.”

The 6-foot-7, 200-pound Dupree, who served a six-game suspension handed down by Coach Henry Bibby to help him concentrate on academics, said he needed above a 2.0 grade-point average in his fall semester classes of journalism, dance and geography to pull him out of academic probation. Dupree, who dropped a class and was not a full-time student, cannot join the Trojans for practice until after grades are posted, which might not be until after Christmas. That puts his plan of dressing for Saturday’s game against La Salle (3-3) in jeopardy.

Bibby was out of town Monday on a recruiting trip and could not be reached for comment. But junior guard Desmon Farmer, Dupree’s closest friend on the team last year, said the Trojans have to be prepared for any scenario.

“We don’t know what’s going on with that situation,” Farmer said. “We’ve still got to play. If he comes back, ‘Hurrah, we’re glad you’re back.’ But if he doesn’t....

“Disappointed? It hurt the team, but I’m not disappointed.”

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X-rays of junior center Jonathan Oliver’s sprained left ankle were negative, as were X-rays of Hutchinson’s sprained right ankle, according to the players.

Oliver, though, is awaiting the results of an MRI exam and does not expect to practice until Wednesday at the earliest.

“It’s real frustrating because I was expecting to play a lot [against Cal State Fullerton last Wednesday] and then this happens,” said Oliver, who tweaked the ankle stepping on Titan center Pape Sow’s foot early in the game and wore a protective boot until Sunday. “Now I have to sit out of practice for a couple of days and I’m going to get out of shape.”

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The Trojans (3-3) have 10 days between games and play once between Dec. 11 and Jan. 2, leaving plenty of time for rest and recovery.