USC Roster

BRANDON BROOKS (Guard)

No. 0, 6-1, 170, Sophomore: Brooks has been called one of the best high school point guards to come out of Portland, Ore., an impressive list that includes Portland Trail Blazer guard Damon Stoudamire. The junior college transfer has not played competitively in two years but as a Jefferson High senior, Brooks was an All-American who averaged 21 points, nine assists and four steals.

No. 15, 6-11, 260, senior: The injury bug that has followed Charissis has bitten him again as he has been slowed in the preseason after aggravating a stress fracture in his left ankle. He started 18 of 20 games last season but sat out the last eight after breaking the ankle stepping on a ball during pregame warmups.

*--* KOSTAS CHARISSIS (Center)

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*--* DERRICK CRAVEN (Guard)

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No. 24, 6-2, 200, sophomore: Craven, who has put on 30 pounds of muscle and looks as though he should be playing strong safety for the football team, is in a three-way battle for the starting point guard position with newcomer Brooks and senior Robert Hutchinson. The younger of the Craven twins, by one minute, Derrick is also a defensive stopper.

*--* ERRICK CRAVEN (Guard)

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No. 22, 6-2, 190, sophomore: The elder Craven’s 376 points last season were the most by a USC freshman since Harold Miner scored 578 in 1989-90. Craven was also the first freshman to lead the Pacific 10 in steals (68) since Jason Kidd in 1993. Craven, who started 28 of 32 games, is USC’s leading returning scorer and is expected to pick up the offensive slack left by the departure of three senior starters.

*--* NICK CURTIS (Forward)

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No. 2, 6-8, 220, sophomore: After starting USC’s first two games as a freshman, Curtis did not play in the Trojans’ final three games last season. That is expected to change this season as Curtis, a strong rebounder, will be counted on to grab the boards that Sam Clancy took with him to the NBA. Curtis has also displayed three-point shooting range.

*--* JERRY DUPREE (Forward)

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No. 31, 6-7, 200, junior: With his acrobatic dunks and blocked shots, Dupree was the star of the Trojans’ run to the Pac-10 tournament’s title game at Staples Center last spring. But a suspension handed down by Coach Henry Bibby has some wondering if Dupree will ever rejoin the team.

*--* DESMON FARMER (Guard)

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No. 33, 6-4, 225, junior: For two seasons, Farmer has teased teammates and Trojan fans with his electric yet erratic brand of play. After coming on strong down the stretch, coming off the bench to average 17.6 points in USC’s final five games, Farmer insists that he will be more consistent this year.

*--* GREGG GUENTHER JR. (Forward)

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No. 13, 6-8, 245, sophomore: A tight end on the football team, Guenther joined the basketball team last season in time to give it much-needed size down low. He started three of the nine games he appeared in and will again be looked on to bring a gridiron mentality and toughness to the paint.

*--* ROBERT HUTCHINSON (Guard)

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No. 4, 6-1, 185, senior: Last year’s team captain is solid but unspectacular, as evidenced by his 2.29-1 assist-turnover ratio. Though he has started only three of the 62 games in which he has played at USC and averaged 1.5 points and 1.2 assists in 9.5 minutes, Hutchinson may open the season as the Trojans’ starting point guard.

*--* JEFF McMILLAN (Forward)

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No. 5, 6-8, 250, junior: McMillan, who transferred from Fordham, will not be eligible to play at USC until next season. A power forward and banger down low, McMillan has been helping the Trojans in practice. He averaged 10.1 points and 7.7 rebounds in two seasons at Fordham.

*--* JONATHAN OLIVER (Center)

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No. 10, 7-0, 230, junior: Oliver may lack bulk, but with his long wingspan he is a defensive force and shot-blocking presence. An athletic big man who likes to run in the transition game, Oliver was all-state at Ventura College last season after averaging 17.1 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.2 blocks.

*--* RORY O’NEIL (Center)

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No. 21, 6-11, 240, freshman: The baby-faced O’Neil has added 20 pounds of muscle. With few dominating centers in the Pac-10 this season, Bibby says much of USC’s half-court offense will go through the technically skilled O’Neil, who has a reliable baseline jumper.

*--* ROY SMILEY (Guard)

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No. 1, 6-4, 195, junior: Smiley initially committed to USC from Seattle’s Garfield High but had to go to junior college first. He can handle the ball as well as drive and shoot, as evidenced by the three consecutive three-pointers he knocked down in USC’s exhibition opener. He will get major minutes, either starting or off the bench.