Southern Cal Lands Ventura JC Pair
Southern California has secured verbal commitments from two of the top prospects in the California junior college ranks -- 6-11, 225 pound Jonathan Oliver and 6-10, 220 pound Jack Wolfinger -- both of whom attend Ventura J.C. in Ventura, Calif.
Oliver and Wolfinger unofficially visited USC last weekend, where they went to the Trojans' football game against San Jose State. They also met up with an old buddy of Oliver's, L.A. Clipper Lamar Odom, as well as current SC power forward Sam Clancy.
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"They recruited the crap out of them and it left an impression on these kids," said Ventura Head Coach Greg Winslow. "It's a good fit and a tremendous opportunity education wise. SC opens a lot of doors with all of their alumni."
Oliver has always been an immense talent with his mobility, size and wingspan, but he had bounced around quite a bit over the past several years before winding up at Ventura last fall.
He started his junior college career at Indian Hills in 1999-2000, but played sparingly as a freshman for the Warriors. He transferred to Ventura last year and sat out, and this season will be his first full season in nearly three years.
Nicknamed Gizmo, Oliver had scholarship offers from Seton Hall, Missouri, Fresno State, Washington State and Tulsa before casting his lot with the Trojans.
"He's 6-11, 225 pounds, left handed, extremely skilled for a post player with great hands and great timing," Winslow said.
As for Wolfinger, he is originally from Portland, Ore., but he spent his senior year of high school in Connecticut before signing with St. John's. He has always been a player most noted for his perimeter skills despite this height.
"He's a small forward with guard skills," Winslow said. "He can handle the ball, pass the ball -- he sees the floor very well, but he is an average shooter. But when you're 6-10 and can do some of those things, you become a huge matchup problem."
The big concern for most college programs who sign junior college players during the early period regards their academic situations.
According to Winslow, that should not be a problem, as Wolfinger transferred in over 60+ hours from St. John's and Oliver is on track to graduate in the spring of 2002.
Winslow feels it's a big advantage for Oliver and Wolfinger to sign early with the Trojan program.
"It takes all of the pressure off a junior college kid," the coach said. "Now he knows what school he is going to and he knows specifically what classes to take to be able to transfer. I think it focuses them in."
On top of that, should both players sign early, it would give Southern Cal unlimited phone contact with both players to ensure that each is staying on top of his studies, Winslow added.
Wolfinger played one year at St. John's and sat out the other year, so he, like Oliver, will have one year to play for Ventura.
Winslow said that Wolfinger had scholarship offers from Washington State, Tulsa and UNLV in addition to Southern Cal. He also said Kentucky had expressed a high degree of interest in Wolfinger this summer.
JUCO Junction hopes to catch the Pirates in action later this season, and we will provide you with an update on both players at that time.