Colleges

McCullum gets more guard help

By GREG AUMAN
Published April 12, 2006

Coach Robert McCullum's depth for USF's second basketball season in the Big East continues to improve, and with it comes optimism about a better showing next winter.

Point guard Solomon Bozeman of Magnolia, Ark., will sign with USF today as the spring signing period opens, giving the Bulls three freshmen guards expected to contribute next season.

"Coach Mac is a great guy, and all the players seemed like nice guys as well," said Bozeman, who signed with Mississippi in November but was granted a release after the Rebels fired Rod Barnes. "He wants me to come in and be a leader, to try to lead the team as a freshman."

Bozeman, who also considered Miami, New Mexico and Tulane in the past month, averaged 28.5 points as a senior, leading Magnolia to the state final. He made an unofficial visit to USF three weeks ago after Barnes was fired, then returned for an official visit this weekend.

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound guard will be busy in the weight room and he'll likely compete with senior walk-on Chris Capko as the top backups to promising freshman Chris Howard, who took a medical redshirt this season.

The Bulls, who also signed shooting guard Dante Curry of Kissimmee in November, still have one scholarship available, earmarked for a frontcourt player.

RECRUITING: Women's basketball coach Jose Fernandez could land a key transfer in Cal center Jessica Lawson, a 6-3 sophomore from Orlando who missed last season with a knee injury. Lawson, who averaged 20.1 points and 17.2 rebounds as a high school senior, earned Pac-10 all-freshman honors in 2004-05 after averaging 10.6 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Golden Bears.

Lawson, who made an official visit to USF this weekend, will visit Middle Tennessee State April 21.

Also visiting this weekend was Wintonia " Kizzy" Hart, a 5-6 point guard from LaBette (Kan.) Community College who finished fourth in junior college scoring with a 23.5 average. Hart has visits planned to Oklahoma State, Fresno State and Marshall but was impressed with the Bulls.

"She really had a good visit, really moved them to the top of her list," LaBette coach Josh Matthews said. "She's giving them a very serious look."

USF appears to be out of the running for another point guard, Trinity Valley (Texas) star Shannon Bobbitt, who likely will choose between Tennessee and Rutgers.

TENNIS: The men's team lost its top player this week when senior Dirk Britzen of Stuttgart, Germany, was found ineligible because of an amateurism issue. The Bulls (3-12) have lost six in a row, outscored 33-6, since Britzen injured his back last month, and they stand to lose more. USF is offering to forfeit its victories - all with singles wins by an ineligible Britzen - and the Bulls are in danger of missing the Big East tournament, which they host next week.

Only eight of the 10 men's teams make the tournament, and if USF can't upset Marquette (10-8) Saturday at home, it would finish as one of two squads with a losing record and no league wins. Senior Federico Barton of Acapulco, Mexico, has taken over as the No. 1 singles player.

THIS AND THAT: Center Solomon Jones continues to impress NBA scouts, earning all-tournament honors after averaging 14 points and 9.7 rebounds in the Portsmouth Invitational showcase in Virginia. Jones, who has a good shot at being USF's first NBA Draft selection in 20 years, said Charlotte and Utah expressed the most interest. ... The women's bowling team, while not a scholarship squad, is one of 16 teams to reach the National Intercollegiate Team Championships April 26-29 in Rockford, Ill. Crystal Stutler, a Pinellas Park graduate, had a six-game average of 186.3 in leading USF to a third-place showing last month in sectional competition.

Greg Auman covers USF athletics. He can be reached at auman@sptimes.com Check out his "USF Bulletin" blog online at www.sptimes.com/blogs/usf

[Last modified April 12, 2006, 01:07:16]