SC NOTEBOOK: CARROLL DOES HIS SHOPPING AT WESTLAKE.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

It might have been one of the easiest commitments for USC to obtain this year when Westlake High receiver-defensive end Michael Stuart decided to become a Trojan on Sunday night.

Stuart delayed accepting offers from Oregon, Washington, California and Fresno State because he really wanted to go to USC. That dream became a reality after USC coach Pete Carroll saw Stuart play Friday night and was impressed enough to make an offer two days later, which Stuart immediately accepted.

``I really liked Oregon a lot, but SC was the place I really wanted to go,'' Stuart said. ``That's why I was holding off on the other ones, waiting for this.''

Now the question is whether USC will make a similar offer to quarterback Rudy Carpenter, who made a big impression with a gutty performance against Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks.

Stuart (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) can play several positions although it's expected he'll initially play receiver for the Trojans.

``They offered me as a utility player,'' Stuart said. ``Coach Carroll says he's not sure where he wants me to play: outside linebacker, defensive end, wide receiver.''

Westlake coach Jim Benkert is confident Stuart could excel on offense or defense.

``Michael has done a great job on both sides of the ball for us, can play an inside slot receiver or a big wideout guy like they have with (Mike) Williams,'' Benkert said. ``They can make him a rush (defensive) end if they put a little weight on him or he might be able to back off the ball at a linebacker spot.''

Stuart is the second Westlake player to commit, joining tight end-defensive end Jimmy Miller. If USC takes Carpenter, the Trojans would have three Warriors, the most from a single high school since taking four Long Beach Poly players two years ago.

--No basketball: Sophomore receiver Mike Williams seems to do anything he wants in football, but teammates are sometimes more impressed with his pickup games against USC basketball players.

``You should see him play,'' said his roommate, defensive end Frostee Rucker.

But the 6-foot-5 Williams said he has no plans to play basketball (like 6- foot-8 tight end Gregg Guenther) and even turned down an offer from basketball coach Henry Bibby.

``There's been an offer,'' Williams said. ``I can play with them. But I don't have the same desire to be really good in basketball like in football. It's fun to play in the offseason with Coach Carroll. I play pickup games with (the basketball team). I like it a lot. For some reason, I hang out with basketball players more than the guys on the (football) team.''

--Far-flung respect: Williams went home to Tampa, Fla., last weekend during the bye week and said his decision to attend USC causes a different reaction today than it did nearly two years ago.

``It's big,'' Williams said. ``At first, people were like, `Why are you going to USC? I remember they were good but that was back in the 1970s.'

``Now it's like, `USC has a great tradition and you made a great choice.' I'm in Tampa, and it's a big (University of Florida) area. People have respect for me now. Maybe they wish I had gone to Florida but I can't imagine being at school anywhere else.''

--Arizona State kickoff: USC's game next week at Arizona State will begin at 12:30 p.m. and be televised by ABC. The only remaining games without an announced kickoff are Arizona (Nov. 15) and UCLA (Nov. 22).

--Last time: USC, currently ranked No. 3, has not been ranked No. 1 since 1981, when it lost to Arizona.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

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MICHAEL STUART

Westlake High's receiver/defensive end immediately accepted an offer to play for USC next season.