SC NOTEBOOK: SOME GOOD NEWS FOR USC RECRUIT.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

USC basketball recruit Benny Songondo, a 6-foot-10 forward from Laurinburg Institute (N.C.) received a qualifying score on the SAT this week, which could allow him to attend school in the fall.

Songondo committed to the Trojans last summer but was not academically qualified and that prevented him from signing a letter of intent. There was some question about whether USC had a scholarship available, or even wanted to sign him this spring.

But when center Robert Swift of Bakersfield, who signed with USC last fall, decided to make himself available for the NBA Draft, it meant the Trojans should have an additional scholarship for next season and could use another post player.

``Assuming everything goes right, he'll go (to USC),'' Laurinburg Institute coach Chris Chaney said. ``It's the only school he wants to go to. He's qualified and I'm talking to the USC coaches about him making a visit.''

Because the spring signing period ended last week, Songondo cannot sign a letter of intent. Instead, he must sign a scholarship agreement, which does not bind him to the school.

Songondo, who weighs 210 pounds, missed roughly half of his senior season because of a knee injury.

USC is still waiting for two other recruits, guards Nick Young (Cleveland of Reseda) and Gabriel Pruitt (Westchester), to achieve qualifying test scores. Young, like Songondo, would have to sign a scholarship agreement.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com