BIG TIME TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK: USC SEES DOUBLE, WANTS TO SNARE NORTHWEST PAIR.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

LAS VEGAS - USC could be close to doubling its pleasure again. After the Craven twins, Errick and Derrick, made big contributions for the Trojans this season, the school is close to landing another pair of twin guards: Rodrick and Lodrick Stewart of Rainer Beach High in Seattle.

The pair, who are deciding between USC and Washington, could make an announcement by the end of the month. The Stewarts, both 6-foot-4, might be more athletic than the Cravens if not as polished. They played Wednesday in front of USC assistant Kurtis Townsend and Washington coach Lorenzo Romar.

``We're going to decide when we get home (late next week) or maybe before,'' said right-handed Rodrick, who is teaming with left-handed Lodrick for the Gary Payton Nike Select team in the Big Time Tournament, one of the nation's summer-recruiting showcases this week. ``My dad loves California, but if we did go to SC, it would be because it's the best for us.''

--Prime prospect: UCLA is in the mix for Charlie Villanueva, a 6-foot-9 forward from Blairstown (N.J.) Academy, but the multitalented forward has lots of options: St. John's, Seton Hall, Villanova, Illinois and perhaps the NBA.

A handful of NBA scouts have been at his games with the Long Island Panthers. Villanueva, though, said he has no plans to turn pro next year.

``I need to bulk up,'' he said. ``I don't think I'm ready to play against grown men yet.''

Villanueva, who lists the three Big East schools as his favorites, plans to take an unofficial visit to UCLA next week after a tournament at Loyola Marymount and wants to schedule an official visit there in late September.

--Cal lands Powe: Cal got a huge boost when the state's best prospect, Leon Powe, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Oakland Tech who is recovering from a torn ACL, announced he would attend Berkeley. Cal is also trying to land another top player in Oakland point guard Ayinde Ubaka.

--On the mark: Mark Johnson, senior guard at Montclair Prep, had a moment to remember when he hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lead Inner City Hoops to a 62-59 win over West Valley Basketball Club in a first-round playoff. Johnson also had a steal, a layup and an assist to lead his team back from a nine-point deficit in the final five minutes.