CHATTER: PEPPERDINE BASKETBALL TEAM LANDS TWO OUT-OF-STATERS.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

The Pepperdine University men's basketball team got an oral commitment from Cody Horning, a 6-foot-7 forward from Longmont High after he visited the Malibu campus over the weekend.

With signing day on Nov. 14, the Waves have two commitments - the other is 6-10 center Derick Grubb from Colleyville Heritage in Texas. ...

Many of the region's top high school basketball players gathered Sunday at Moorpark College in the first annual Slam-Jam Fall Showcase, and as can be expected when a bunch of basketball players get together, there was just as much talking as there was playing.

``I think basketball fans in the area got a chance to see some good young players,'' said Slam Jam's Jack Pollon. ``And with the season just a month a way, it was an opportunity for these guys to get out there and show what they're capable of doing.

There were a number of standouts. Here is a breakdown of who was the most impressive:

--Sophomore game: El Camino Real of Woodland Hills is in good hands with point guard Rai Colston, an explosive scorer and penetrator. It will be interesting to see how Colston's attacking style fits with the Conquistadores Princeton University passing game.

But the guy drawing the most attention was Chaminade of West Hills' Adrian Aye-Darko, who should be a standout by the time he's a senior. Aye-Darko showed the ability to score and pass and has excellent instincts.

--Junior game: Former Campbell Hall of North Hollywood guard Derek Williams, now at Price of Los Angeles, showed why the Vikings will miss his athletic ability and scoring. Chaminade's Dion Cook, a 6-4 wing, has improved dramatically and should give the Eagles a boost athletically. Grant of Van Nuys guard Gino Riney, one of the region's most underrated players, showed tremendous court vision.

--Senior game: This group had a little of everything. If Frank Robinson is eligible to play at Littlerock after leaving Chatsworth, the Lobos will have the region's best player. Robinson, a 6-4 forward, had no trouble getting to the rim whenever he wanted and wowed the crowd with a handful of dunks. He's a smooth ballhandler, his outside game is coming along, and if his defense improves, he'll have an all-around game.

Reseda's Sergi Lepiashinski scored at will, and Buckley's David Gayle showed long-range shooting. Montclair Prep of Van Nuys' Charlie Kranzdorf and Harvard-Westlake of Studio City's Craig Weinstein were unselfish and defensive-minded - two rare qualities in this type of setting.

For sheer fun and excitement, few players can match Stoneridge Prep of Tarzana point guard Leon Usher, a 5-9 magician with the ball. Usher is at his third school in as many years after playing at Canoga Park and Verdugo Hills of Tujunga the past two seasons, but he's a legitimate Division I prospect whose only fault is thinking he has to score to have an impact. Once Usher becomes a more willing passer, he'll be nearly impossible to stop.