• OU, USC

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impact freshmen

There’s no team in college basketball that better understands the impact freshmen are having on the game than Oklahoma.

Forward Blake Griffin is averaging 15 points and 9.2 rebounds and was playing high school basketball less than a year ago. OU’s familiarity with the impact of first-year players goes well beyond its own locker room, though.

The Sooners (5-1) face No. 22 USC (5-1) at 10 tonight in both teams’ part of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.

Besides being the Sooners’ second game against a ranked team, it will also be their second against a freshman sensation.

Two weeks ago, it was Memphis’ Derrick Rose. Tonight it’s the Trojans’ O.J. Mayo.

“This freshman class is a really special and unique class,” Capel said. “You can put it up there as maybe the best class ever. You look at the impact these guys are having across the country at different high-level programs. It’s pretty incredible.

“But when you watched these guys in high school, you knew this was going to be a special and unique class.”

Capel saw Mayo for the first time at an NBA Players Association camp in Richmond, Va. five years ago. He said he could tell then Mayo was going to be a special player.

Mayo’s arrival in Los Angeles has helped put USC basketball on the map. The program has long played in the shadow of crosstown rival UCLA. But Mayo brings a some power the Trojans have rarely had.

Griffin, who has played in summer tournaments against Mayo since both were in junior high, said it’s no surprise he’s had such a big impact.

“He’s so smooth,” Griffin said. “He never looks like he’s going full speed, but he’s always blowing right by people.”

Each college basketball season has breakout stars. For years, it was upperclassmen that took center stage.