USC'S GUARD IS UP FRESHMAN CRAVEN HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

Right away, there's something different about USC freshman shooting guard Errick Craven, and it's not just because he doesn't like to play video games.

``Oh no, I'm not into video games,'' Craven said. ``I like to watch the Discovery Channel.''

There are more surprises. USC forward Sam Clancy said Craven is so aggressive, he sometimes barges over Clancy's shoulder and knocks the ball out of his hands while going for rebounds.

``I yell at him to stop doing that, because the ball goes out of bounds,'' Clancy said. ``I tell him he's getting my rebounds.''

But ask Craven about playing basketball, and he says, ``Usually, I'm not a confident person.''

USC coach Henry Bibby, who can sometimes be stingy handing out compliments about his players, raves about Craven.

``Errick Craven will be a special player, a Harold Miner kind of guy,'' Bibby said, referring to the former USC All-American guard. ``I haven't seen anyone go to the basket in a long time like Errick Craven. That's something we haven't had since I've been here.''

Craven, on the other hand, merely says, ``I'm not as timid as I was at the beginning of the year.''

There are two Errick Cravens. One is a quiet, soft-spoken 18-year-old. The other is an intense, physical shooting guard who's averaging 9.8 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Trojans (4-2).

There are also two Cravens - literally. Errick's identical twin brother, Derrick, plays point guard for the Trojans, but has been out the past month with a stress fracture in his right leg.

The twins live together and have the same classes, same major and identical schedules. They also share similar hobbies, or more accurately, lack of hobbies.

``We just study and play basketball,'' Derrick said. ``We don't really do anything else.''

Although Derrick is slightly taller, they are difficult to tell apart.

Even Bibby has problems differentiating.

``I give him the rest of the year, and then I think he'll be better at telling us apart,'' Errick said.

This is the first time the Craven brothers, who won two state titles at Bishop Montgomery High in Torrance, are not playing together. Derrick Craven is expected to be out until at least Dec. 27.

``I see myself playing through him,'' Derrick said.

In the meantime, Errick has flourished. He has started USC's past three games and tied a school record last week by going 5 for 5 on 3-pointers and scored a career-high 20 points against Rhode Island.

``It's been a roller coaster,'' Craven said. ``I'm a lot more comfortable. I'm at an all-time-high confidence right now.''

Missing shots also seems to have no effect on his game. Craven started the season just 1 for 8 on 3-pointers until his perfect performance against Rhode Island.

``That was like my worst shooting ever,'' he said.

As impressive as his scoring was against Rhode Island, it's his defense and rebounding that catch the eye of his teammates and coaches.

``He ripped the ball from (Pepperdine center Cedric) Suitt the other night like Suitt was nothing,'' Bibby said. ``He's a rebounding fiend for a guy his size. He brings so much to the basketball team. He brings a lot of energy and rebounding from the shooting-guard position.''

Last week, Craven, who is listed at 6-foot-2, had 10 rebounds against the Waves.

``He's better than I thought,'' Clancy said.

Craven tries to be modest whenever talking about himself. He didn't mind coming off the bench for USC's first three games, doesn't care if he scores a lot of points and rarely has forced a shot this season.

``As far as skill and being better than others, I'm just always hustling,'' he said. ``I wasn't expecting too much this season. I figured in the duration of the year, I'd get more confident. But not starting didn't bother me at all.''

The emphasis on team play was one reason he and Derrick were so highly recruited at Bishop Montgomery. Errick said the twins also considered Oregon, Stanford, Arizona State and Cal before deciding to attend USC.

``From the beginning, we told everybody we wanted to be together,'' Derrick Craven said.

The twins are inseparable, except when it comes to a pair of subjects: Dating and playing one-on-one.

``We'll say, `No I don't want you around,' if we want to go out with someone,'' Errick said. ``We're pretty frank with each other.''

And they have not played one-on-one against each other since middle school because the games have become too competitive.

``It would result in a fight or someone quitting,'' Errick Craven said.

Asked who would win such a contest, Errick said, ``It's a tossup.''

SC UP NEXT

USC at Long Beach State

Today, 7:35 p.m.

TV: FSN 

Radio: 1540-AM

ERRICK CRAVEN FILE

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 170

Class: Freshman

Notable: Led Bishop Montgomery High in Torrance to two state championships. Was 2001 Division III Player of the Year.

Personal: Twin brother, Derrick, is a point guard on the USC basketball team.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

(color) USC coach Henry Bibby loves the way freshman guard Errick Craven goes to the basket. Here, he drives against Rhode Island.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box:

ERRICK CRAVEN FILE (see text)