HE'S ALL THAT `TAZ' USC FORWARD BLUTHENTHAL BLOSSOMS IN SOPHOMORE SEASON.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

When David Bluthenthal was little, his family nicknamed him the Tasmanian Devil, based on the wild, frolicking cartoon character. Bluthenthal always seemed to be running all over the house, getting into things and causing havoc.

``If he was quiet, you had to go look for him, because he might stick a pin in a light plug or something,'' said his father, Ralph Bluthenthal. ``He was very active.''

Years later, Bluthenthal has turned that boundless energy into a special talent on USC's basketball team. The 6-foot-7 sophomore forward tied a school-record with 28 rebounds against Arizona State and has averaged a league-leading 10.1 rebounds in Pacific-10 Conference games.

It's been a remarkable turnaround for a player who barely got off the bench his freshman season, when he played just seven minutes and averaged two points. The frustration from that season was considerable. Bluthenthal entered USC as the City Section 4-A Player of the Year, but was virtually invisible.

``After last year, people wrote me off,'' Bluthenthal said. ``Every game is a big game for me now. I think every game is personal.''

USC coach Henry Bibby regretted that Bluthenthal didn't play more following last season but is glad to have him today, especially after the Trojans lost forwards Sam Clancy (broken foot) and Jarvis Turner (broken ankle) two weeks ago with potentially season-ending injuries.

``David has been very patient to wait and let the game come to him,'' Bibby said. ``This is his freshman year of playing basketball. I wish we could have redshirted him last year. The kid didn't play. This is his first year of playing college basketball and first playing small forward.''

Bluthenthal seemed a natural to attend USC. His great, great, great grandfather was Isaias Hellman, one of the three major donors of the land where USC sits in Los Angeles.

But his lifelong dream was to play for UCLA. During his senior year at Westchester High, he narrowed his choices to USC, UCLA and Oklahoma State.

``UCLA wanted me to sign in the spring and I wanted to sign early,'' Bluthenthal said. ``I think they wanted me in case they didn't get JaRon Rush. They didn't pursue me as much as USC, and they started to recruit me after USC. I visited Oklahoma State. But it was too country. So I chose USC.''

Bluthenthal probably regretted coming to USC during that tumultuous freshman season, but he's too quiet and well-mannered to complain.

``He's always quiet, in his own way,'' Ralph Bluthenthal said. ``It was probably tougher on me than on him that he didn't play.''

Bluthenthal didn't always internalize his feelings. When he was 4, he decided to run away from home. So he packed a small knapsack with some clothes and tied it on the end of a stick. He started walking down the street, with his family following in their van.

Just when Bluthenthal turned the corner, his father intentionally turned the van in the opposite direction.

``My wife said, `Stop, he's screaming for us,' '' Ralph Bluthenthal said. ``Then we opened the door and he didn't want to get in the van.''

Asked about the incident, David says, ``I don't remember much. I think every kid did that.''

A matter-of-fact answer to any question is typical for Bluthenthal. After his 28-rebound performance against Arizona State, he wasn't shocked or surprised by his effort.

``I think I can top that,'' Bluthenthal said. ``I don't think it was a fluke.''

He followed up the next game by scoring a career-high 26 points in the Trojans' upset of Arizona, and immediately went from being a role player to a key to USC's success.

``When he's got a certain look in his eyes . . . you can't stop him,'' Ralph Bluthenthal said.

Bluthenthal is now one of USC's top four players, with the freedom to shoot at nearly any time without worrying about being benched by Bibby.

``(The biggest difference) is confidence this year,'' Bluthenthal said. ``Knowing that I can play at this level. I think I can deal with the pressure even though this is really my first year playing college basketball.''

Besides, the stress of playing basketball isn't much compared to the problems he has endured. Five years ago, his mother, Suzanne, died from cancer. Bluthenthal, who is Jewish, owns a Star of David that contains some of her ashes, but prefers not to wear it around his neck.

``I'm afraid of losing it,'' he said. ``It's definitely something I hope to have the rest of my life. It is pretty special to me.''

It's also something that he would probably prefer to keep private. He doesn't like drawing attention to himself, and that includes his personal style. Unlike many players, Bluthenthal does not have any tattoos on his arms.

``Larry Bird never had tattoos, Magic Johnson never had tattoos,'' Bluthenthal said.

It just wouldn't fit with his personality.

``I've always been more of a team player,'' Bluthenthal said. ``On this team, I've felt like more of a role player. But now that (Clancy) is out, I guess I'll have to start taking more shots.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo: (1 -- color) no caption (David Bluthenthal)

(2) USC forward David Bluthenthal, center, has posted career highs in points (26) and rebounds (28) this season. He averaged two points per game as a freshman.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News