Updates from June, 2007

In our final edition of “Where will Gabe and Nick go?”, we collect the experts’ predictions for USC’s two potential first-round draftees. If the mock drafts are to be believed, Nick Young will be joining Reggie Bush in New Orleans. If the Hornets look elsewhere, expect the hometown Clippers to grab him. As for Gabe […]

Pleasant Grove (CA.) Elk Grove HS defensive lineman Armond Armstead was offered a scholarship by USC today, and the 6′4″ athlete (ranked #17 among DL’s on Rivals) stated that the Trojans were currently his top choice, although he will not make his final decision until July 30th.
Armstead Gets Trojan Offer (Scout)
Armstead Gets Official (Rivals, $)
Player […]

USCFootball.com has posted a pair of interviews with TE Anthony McCoy and CB/S Josh Pinkard. The latter interview also includes notes from the Trojans’ Monday workout. There’s also a video feature on QB Mark Sanchez.
A Well Tutored Tight End (Rivals, $)
Pink Is Back (Rivals, $)
Video: Sanchez Summer (Rivals, $)

The big news out of USC’s Rising Stars Camp (for some of the nation’s elite high school football players) is the unexpected participation of top-ranked cornerback prospect Patrick Johnson, of Pompano Beach (Fl.) Ely HS. Although he previously committed to Miami (Fla.), the Trojans offered him a scholarship on Friday, and it seems like the […]

ESPN has some tidbits on the summer activities of new and returning members of the men’s basketball team. While OJ Mayo is busying himself playing with NBA players in Westwood, his fellow incoming players are in summer school. And it sounds like Taj Gibson is bulking up, as hoped.
Mayo settling in at USC (ESPN, $)

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach rates the top freshman to watch during the 2007 college football season. His list includes two Trojans: WR/CB Ronald Johnson (at #7) and RB Joe McKnight (#9). Number 1 on the list is incoming Illinois WR Arrelious Benn.
Illinois’ Benn, ND’s Clausen impact newcomers for 2007 (ESPN)

If you are like TrojanUpdate, you are heading to Westwood tonight (yeah, we know) to catch a screening of the Nick Young documentary “Second Chance Season,” which chronicles the former Trojan forward’s rocky path to college. It’s part of the Los Angeles Film Festival, screening tonight and Sunday, July 1st.
Four years, and Nick Young is […]

Class of 2008 Moreno Valley (Calif.) Rancho Verde OT Tyron Smith has picked USC and will make a verbal commitment to the Trojans on Friday morning, both major recruiting services are reporting. Listed varyingly at 6′5″ and 6′6″ and around 265 lbs, Smith is rated 4 stars and the #7 OT overall by Scout, and […]

News comes this morning that recruiting news site Rivals.com–which operates USCFootball.com–has been acquired by Yahoo! for approximately $100 million (or $40 million above what Fox paid to acquire Scout.com two years ago). No word yet on what the acquisition will mean for USCFootball.com, but in a message board post that site’s Ryan Abraham says that […]

KABC-TV interviewed incoming freshman guard OJ Mayo today. What do they discuss during the entire interview? The Lakers, naturally.
O.J. Mayo Gets Ready to Play for USC (abc7.com)