BIBBY'S PIECE OF PATCHWORK A WINNER : TROJANS MELD EIGHT NEW FACES.

Byline: Scott Wolf Daily News Staff Writer

Henry Bibby was at a small gym in New Mexico, recruiting somebody else, when he saw Elias Ayuso play exactly 20 minutes of basketball.

It was the first and only time Bibby had watched Ayuso, but after going 0-9 in his brief stint as USC's coach last season, Bibby desperately needed players.

So he took a chance and offered a scholarship.

``Nobody knew about me. I was one of those shadow players,'' said Ayuso, a guard. ``He gambled. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.''

Bibby rolled the dice eight different times during a frantic 45-day cross-country recruiting tour. His goal was simple: warm bodies.

He saw most players maybe once, sometimes not at all. Then he offered them scholarships.

But Bibby's ability to find these players, and smoothly blend them with USC's existing roster, is why the Trojans have defied expectations and will play Illinois on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

``We scrambled. It was put together at the last minute,'' Bibby said. ``A lot of these players were going elsewhere. I couldn't even pronounce Ayuso's name. I only saw (point guard) Gary Johnson on a tape in my hotel room. I saw (guard) Ken Sims play one game. I never saw (forward) Ramy Shoukry play, a friend in Dallas told me about him. I never saw (forward) Anthony White play. A lot of these guys, I was going on what other people said.''

Freshman guard Danny Walker, who went to Fremont High School and had drawn interest from Pacific-10 Conference schools, was playing in a tournament at Trade Tech, which is only a couple miles from USC.

``I saw Coach Bibby walk in and tried to show off,'' Walker said. ``The first time I got the ball I made a little move and shot a 25-footer.''

Walker then made another 3-pointer, and Bibby had seen enough.

``I saw him take two shots and knew I wanted him,'' Bibby said. ``I never saw him play in high school. We were indecisive on him during (former coach) Charlie Parker's time.''

Walker has made 39 percent of his 3-pointers despite being slowed by a knee injury most of the season.

Another freshman, forward Jarvis Turner from Bakersfield, was being recruited heavily by Seton Hall, Pepperdine, Oregon State and the Washington schools when Bibby made a late pitch. Turner had eliminated USC from his final choices before Bibby was named head coach.

He saw the opportunity for playing time, however, and liked the idea of playing for Bibby.

``The other schools had gotten a head start,'' Turner said. ``But when Henry Bibby got the job it got me excited. He won championships on three different levels (NCAA, CBA, NBA). I knew he was a good coach and it was close to home.''

What's amazing is that in most cases, Bibby brought in players who were able to make immediate contributions without any prolonged adjustment period.

Ayuso has started 20 games and averaged 9.2 points per game while making 49 3-pointers. New Mexico and Fresno State recruited him, among others, but most schools were unaware that he was eligible to leave junior college after his freshman season.

``The difference was that Coach Bibby saw me play,'' Ayuso said. ``He wanted to recruit me next year and I told him I wasn't coming back next year. He got the first word.''

Ayuso said he was drawn to USC by Bibby's direct approach while recruiting him.

``He was straight up. The only coach I've really, like, trusted,'' Ayuso said.

Williams also has started 20 games and averaged nearly eight points and four rebounds. Expected to be a role player, he has been one of USC's most consistent performers.

``I saw (forward) Gary Williams once in an all-star game, and he didn't hit a shot,'' Bibby said.

It didn't really matter, however, considering Bibby had only four players returning from last season.

Other new players have had enough big moments to keep USC competitive and provide a nice complement to the Trojans' core group of seniors (Stais Boseman, David Crouse, Rodrick Rhodes, Jaha Wilson).

For example, when Boseman and Rhodes were suspended for the Ohio State game, Sims started and scored a career-high 17 points. Midway through the season, Johnson emerged from being a permanent benchwarmer to the team's starting point guard.

It's been that kind of year.

WHO ARE THESE GUYS?

A major part of USC's success has been the ability to blend eight new players into the team:

Player Pos. Previous school Comment

Elias Ayuso G New Mexico JC Shooting 41 percent on 3-pointers

Gary Williams F Riverside CC Averaging 7.9 points, 4.1 rebounds

Gary Johnson G Brown Mackie, Kan. JC Key steal against Washington State

Jarvis Turner F South Bakersfield HS Trojans' most-athletic post player

Danny Walker G Fremont HS Has overcome midseason knee surgery

Ken Sims G New Mexico JC Is pitcher in Baltimore Orioles organization

Anthony White F Los Angeles CC Provides inside depth off bench

Ramy Shoukry F Collin County, Texas CC Made first start last weekend

CAPTION(S):

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Chart: WHO ARE THESE GUYS? (see text)