CHATTER: TOP CROP BELONGS TO USC.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

You think college baseball, chances are USC comes to mind. With its 12 national titles, 107 All-Americans, 80 major-leaguers and one Hall of Famer, the Trojans like to brag they are the model program.

Yet for all its success, USC never has had the top recruiting class.

Until now.

Collegiate Baseball magazine has named USC's recruiting class as the nation's best. It's the first time USC has earned the honor in the 17 years the magazine has evaluated classes.

``It is certainly a quality incoming class, equal to any we've had and perhaps the best,'' USC coach Mike Gillespie said. ``This should form the nucleus of USC baseball for the next few years.''

Heading the group are two transfers who earned Freshman All-America honors last year at Vanderbilt: Mark Prior, who pitched on the U.S. national team last summer, and outfielder Aaron Fausett, who hit .356 with eight home runs and 41 RBI last season.

El Segundo standout Alberto Concepcion, a second-round pick of the Padres, also committed to USC, as did Glendora pitcher Chad Clark (taken in the 22nd round by Milwaukee) and Arlington infielder Anthony Lunetta, a 42nd-round choice of Cleveland.

A school gets points for every recruit that was drafted, received All-America, All-State or All-League honors, and was named a state or national player of the year.

The magazine ranked Cal State Northridge's class 21st and Pepperdine's 23rd. UCLA wasn't in the top 30. . . .

Speaking of USC baseball, former catcher Eric Munson is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the top amateur baseball player. Dodgers pitcher Darren Dreifort is a previous winner. . . .

UCLA women's basketball team will play an exhibition against the national team Nov. 5 at Pauley Pavilion. . . .

Former Moorpark soccer standout Tracey Milburn, now at UCLA, scored two goals and had an assist in the win over Arizona, but her big moment came when she beat three Arizona defenders down the field and scored a goal from 5 yards out. Milburn and teammate Jessica Winton are tied for fourth in the Pac-10 with 17 points. Milburn has seven goals and three assists. . . .

Cal State Northridge's Laura Szymanski has registered at least 10 kills in 26 consecutive matches. Only three times in her two-season, college-volleyball career has she failed to reach 10. . . .

The Southern California Stealth under-16 softball team won the California Waves Fall Classic in Santa Barbara. It was the team's first tournament title.

Pitcher Tori Rocco struck out three in the championship game, a 2-1 victory over West Coast Tides. Rocco also struck out three in the tournament opener against the Tide. Pitcher Cassie Shires struck out nine in two games.

Offensively, Brandi King, Lynee Hastings, Patricia Servillo, Stacy Nicklaus and Rebecca McIntire and Krystan Reed drove in runs.

Other players: Jennifer Whitcomb, Christina Kula, Deanna Rini, Lindsay Tognetti, Kristin MacRunnels and Jackie Lowzik. . . .

Keeping tabs on the Hoyas: Former Harvard-Westlake soccer player Sarah Breech had an assist in Georgetown's 3-1 loss to Villanova. Westlake volleyball player Megan Mullen had seven digs and an assist against Boston College.