CATCHING SCOUTS' ATTENTION USC'S CLEMENT IS DRAWING BIG INTEREST.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

LONG BEACH - On the verge of today's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, the Seattle Mariners were taking a long look at USC catcher Jeff Clement. It's significant because the Mariners own the third pick and while Clement is projected to go in the top 15, few thought he could crack the top five.

``I hope it's not one of those things where a club romances a guy and then they don't take him,'' USC coach Mike Gillespie said. ``They haven't said, `We'll take you,' but they sure like him.''

The person least affected by pre-draft developments is Clement, who said he isn't concerned about his status, especially as USC spent the previous four days playing in a NCAA Regional in Long Beach.

``I'm not nervous,'' Clement said. ``I'm not worried about what's going to happen. It's a completely different situation than high school.''

Clement was drafted in the 12th round after setting the national record for home runs (75) in a high school career at Marshalltown (Iowa) High.

``It didn't work out the way I thought it would,'' Clement said. ``I definitely thought I'd get drafted in the first couple of rounds. In hindsight, it's the best thing that's happened to me going to USC.''

Clement's hitting hasn't suffered in college, and he entered Monday's game with Pepperdine hitting .352 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI. He's also a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, which goes to the top NCAA Division I baseball player.

His 44 career homers rank third on USC's all-time list, just nine behind Mark McGwire and proved his Iowa exploits were not an aberration.

``I imagine a lot of people thought that Iowa competition is not California,'' Clement said. ``But I've always had confidence in myself.''

But it's Clement's defense, however, that might make him a high pick in today's draft.

``In high school, the question was always whether I could catch,'' Clement said. ``Coach Gillespie has helped me.''

Clement also credits former USC catcher and current minor-leaguer Jason Brown, who has worked with him on his defensive skills.

``He's probably the biggest reason I've become a better catcher,'' Clement said. ``I've worked with a lot of catchers and he puts things in a way that make sense to me.

``He communicates in a way that really clicks for me. I owe a lot to him.''

Another positive for Clement is his attitude. He was one of the happiest Trojans after a 12-2 victory over Pacific-10 champion Oregon State, despite going 0 for 6 in the game.

``That was a huge win for us as a team to beat the Pac-10 champs by 10 runs,'' Clement said. ``I wasn't concerned about going 0 for 6.''

Said Gillespie: ``He doesn't throw bats or punch walls. He maintains his cool and composure but is an intense competitor.''

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

CLEMENT