USC BASKETBALL: FIRST STEPS FOR FRESHMEN PRACTICE BEGINS FOR AWAITED CLASS.

Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL

Staff Writer

Marcus Simmons quickly found out that being O.J. Mayo's roommate made a wake-up alarm unnecessary.

"Every day, he's like 'Come on, get out of bed. Let's go shoot,' " Simmons said.

In the 10 weeks Mayo has lived on the USC campus, the heralded recruit has organized practices with some of his future teammates nearly on a daily basis.

On Monday, he just had to show up.

Mayo, Simmons and the rest of the incoming freshmen, who will be counted on so heavily this season, participated in their first official practice Monday, as USC prepares for four exhibition games this weekend in Mazatlan, Mexico -- the first time Simmons and Mayo have traveled outside the U.S.

"It was fun," said Mayo, wearing a No. 32 practice jersey. "I learned a lot. It was my first college practice, so I was really excited."

Mayo didn't have much time to talk after practice because he had to do a photo shoot for USA Today along with Taj Gibson, then run to eat before a 6:30 p.m. class.

The exhibition games give USC the opportunity to practice for 10days more than a month before preparation for the season officially begins Oct. 12. The extra time is important with the Trojans needing Mayo and four other freshmen to help replace the three leading scorers from last season, including first-round NBA pick Nick Young.

Returning players began practicing last Wednesday, but the freshmen couldn't participate until fall classes began Monday.

"What's meaningful is that we'll hopefully be more ahead Oct. 12," coach Tim Floyd said. "The less teaching you have to do individually Oct. 12, the further our team has the chance to advance."

Floyd said the structure of the practice -- halfcourt offensive drills -- didn't allow for Mayo to make any of the spectacular plays that made him the top basketball recruit in the nation.

"It was nice to see all our freshmen and they were all just listening," Floyd said. "The other guys have been practicing five days, so they had a chance to observe and then go out and repeat what (the returning players) were doing. I haven't had the chance to really even watch them go up and down the floor other than a little street ball to start the practice."

Returning forward Keith Wilkinson indicated that Mayo wasn't just sitting back and listening in his first practice.

"You can tell he's a leader and a winner even though we weren't doing much," Wilkinson said. "He's really vocal out there, encouraging guys and telling them where to go and what to do."

Other freshmen participating in their first practice were forward Davon Jefferson, forward Mamadou Diarra from Stoneridge Prep in Simi Valley and walk-on James Dunleavy, the son of Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy.

Point guard Angelo Johnson is awaiting word from the NCAA Clearinghouse before he can practice.

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