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Basketball era comes to end as stars leave

One of the most prolific eras in South Florida sports history will be recognized tonight when the men's basketball team plays its final home game of the season, a.k.a. Senior Night.

Barring a resurrection of divine proportions in next week's Conference USA tournament, B.B. Waldon and Altron Jackson will not play in the NCAA Tournament during their careers. They will have done practically everything else, though.

Jackson is C-USA's all-time leading scorer and should finish No.2 on USF's career list. Waldon, No.3 in C-USA scoring, is 14 rebounds from becoming USF's all-time leader.

USF coach Seth Greenberg reminisced Monday about the two players who have powered USF basketball under his watch.

He remembered his first impression of Waldon being he had "small hands, but he caught everything."

He remembered heading to Lakeland (Waldon) and Sarasota (Jackson) for home visits, trying to sell them on a team that had won two C-USA games the season before but is 66-51 (56.4 percent) overall since they arrived.

He remembered Waldon garnering instant accolades while Jackson had a "hall pass" for two seasons, drastically improving his game in Waldon's shadow.

He spoke about Jackson's occasional growing pains while learning to cope with national attention the past two seasons and Waldon's searing frustration as the nagging injuries mounted this season, leaving him unable to practice on two bum knees and blunting his offensive repertoire.

Still, Waldon's production has increased in several key areas. This season, he has set personal bests for rebounds (9.0 average), assists (2.5) and steals (2.0).

Jackson and Waldon, Waldon and Jackson. Either way, they are the most productive twosome in school history.

They will be honored before tonight's 7:30 game against Houston (with center Mike Bernard).

So what will Greenberg be thinking?

"How quick it went," he said. "Players are like your family. It's like sending your kids off to college. The program's better off for having both of these kids in it."

DON'T FORGET HIM: Bernard played two seasons for USF after transferring from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. His junior season was nondescript, and he sat out the first eight games this season with an NCAA suspension.

He has finished with a rush, though. In just 13.2 minutes a game, Bernard has averaged 5.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1 block.

NOT DONE: The football team likely will add one more high school signee. Strong safety Cliff Magby of Lake City Columbia has committed to USF and will sign pending a sufficient test score.

Magby (5 feet 11, 185 pounds) played all over during his senior season, including kick and punt returner, running back (7.6 yards per carry) and wide receiver (25 receptions). He played linebacker and safety on defense.

"Coach (Jim) Leavitt likes him on defense," Columbia coach Danny Green said. "USF is the best fit for him. We're real excited."

Green said he expects Magby, who also was recruited by Georgia Southern and Louisville, to earn a qualifying score.

"We're just waiting on the results," Green said. "We've got him signed up for another test in April just in case, but I expect him to make it."

-- Pete Young covers USF sports. He can be reached at (813) 226-3346 or via e-mail at young@sptimes.com.

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