Alex Stepheson announced in May that he was transferring from North Carolina.
Now it's official: He's enrolling at Southern California.
That's what multiple sources told CBSSports.com early Monday, and so the next question is whether the 6-foot-9 forward will be allowed to play for the Trojans this season. According to NCAA rules that require Division I transfers to sit out one year, he will not.
But Stepheson initially said he was leaving UNC because his family is "dealing with some health challenges" that made him want to be closer to his Los Angeles home. Assuming that's accurate, Stepheson could appeal for immediate playing time like Tyler Smith did when he transferred from Iowa to Tennessee to be near his ailing father, who battled cancer until he died in September 2007.
"(Stepheson) should be able to play," said one source. "It's exactly like the Tyler Smith situation."
Stepheson averaged 4.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game as a sophomore last season.
Attempts to reach him by phone Monday were not immediately successful.
