The USC men’s basketball team moved into a tie for first place in the Pac-12 when they beat UCLA 89-75 last week at UCLA. One of the main reasons they were able to defeat the Bruins was the play of freshman Chimezie Metu.
Against the Bruins Metu, who played for Lawndale high school last year, made eight out of 10 shots while scoring 21 points. Some of the moves he made against the Bruins would make an NBA scout smile. He also recorded eight rebounds and he leads the team in block shots this season with 32.
“He is learning the college game,” said USC head coach Andy Enfield last week. “He realizes that he can perform at a certain level and he is gaining confidence. He has improved every week. He was spectacular against UCLA.”
UCLA’s head coach Steve Alford, who tried to recruit Metu, was also impressed with his effort against his team. “Metu got away from us. He was terrific. He went crazy on us.”
Metu put a spin move on UCLA’s 7-foot center Thomas Welch that had the over 12,000 fans in Pauley Pavilion looking on in amazement. “He is a great player,” said Welch after the game. “I played against him in high school so I know what he can do.”
USC hopes to continue their winning ways this weekend when they travel to the state of Oregon to battle Oregon on Thursday at 8 p.m. and Oregon State on Sunday at noon.
“This league is so talented that we know we can win or lose a game on any given night,” said Enfield. “We just have to keep working hard.”
Enfield continued to say, “We are growing as a basketball team and maturing as players and we have improved since the beginning of the season. I am really proud of this team because they have taken the professional approach and they are coming out and playing hard. We know they are going to play hard and I know they are going to care.”
If Metu keeps improving he will be playing in the NBA in a few years but right now he will be trying to help USC win the Pac-12 championship and go deep into the NCAA tournament and he is glad to be a Trojan.
“I am a team player,” Metu said. “I don’t care if I have zero points or 20 points as long as we win.”
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