USC’s Gibson wavering on whether to turn pro

Although USC sophomore Taj Gibson announced at the Trojans’ team banquet Monday night that he would return for his junior season, a source close to the situation said the 6-foot-9 forward would assess his future over the next few days before deciding whether to make himself available for the NBA draft.

Reached by telephone at her New York home on Tuesday, Gibson’s mother, Sharon, said her son had not informed her of his plans.

Gibson averaged 10.8 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Trojans, whose season ended Thursday when they lost to Kansas State, 80-67, in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Gibson is projected as a second-round pick on nbadraft.net.

Gibson set a school single-season record with 84 blocks and his two-year total of 153 blocks trails only Sam Clancy’s school record four-year total of 195.

Two other Trojans also are confronted by decisions about their future. Freshman guard O.J. Mayo, USC’s leading scorer who averaged 20.7 points, is expected to become a lottery pick. Freshman forward Davon Jefferson said he would “finish school” after the Trojans’ season concluded, but a source close to Jefferson said he intended to declare for the draft.

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-- Ben Bolch