Cassie Harberts, a junior at San Clemente High School in Orange County, has given a very early verbal to the University of Southern California. (Link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/varsitytimesinsider/2009/03/girls-basket-36.html).
The 6-foot-2 power forward ended up playing point guard a lot this past season for her guard-starved Tritons team. She averaged 19.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Harberts plans to major in Medicine in college, with the goal of becoming an oncologist. She plays for the Cal Swish during the summertime.
According to an inside source, USC officials were most happy to have Harberts aboard for her rebounding. But who Harberts will play for – if she stands behind her verbal committment – remains to be seen.
Though it is the end of March and USC Coach Mark Trakh hasn’t been released from his position, he hasn’t signed a new contract with the Trojans, either. Rumors persist that he will take the Long Beach State University coaching job, freed March 11 when school officials declined to renew Coach Mary Hegarty’s contract.
It’s a pregnant pause, and it makes me wonder what is keeping USC from making a decision whether or not to keep the five-year coach.