USC Morning Briefing: DeRozan’s Raptors Take Lead, Summer Camps Closed and Other Bullets

Apr 30, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN;Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) drives past Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) in game five of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Brooklyn 115-113. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Three & Out:

1. DeRozan’s Raptors Take Series Lead:  Former Trojan star DeMar DeRozan continued his strong playoff run with the Raptors, chipping in 24 points on route to a 115-113 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Two of DeRozan’s most important points came from the charity stripe with just six second remaining in regulation. He also added six rebounds, which was second on the squad. DeRozan remains the Raptor’s leading scorer in the playoffs with an average of 22.7 points per game.In the wake of Taj Gibson‘s playoff exit Tuesday night, DeRozan is the only former Trojan still alive in the NBA postseason.
2. Camps Remain Closed: While Steve Sarkisian has made an effort to bring back many aspects of the Pete Carroll era, most notably in terms of media and public access, not everything is making a comeback. A USC spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that summer camps, like Rising Stars, will remain closed to both the public and the media. USC closed the camps as part of the NCAA sanctions, which will end June 9. The end of those sanctions means fall camp could very well open up as it was in the past, though we await word on those details.
3. Offers: It’s the slow period for USC’s two major sports but both coaching staffs remain hard at work making the recruiting rounds. Wednesday a couple of potential Trojans received offers. On the football side, Marquavius Lewis of Hutchinson, Kansas is one of the top JUCO players in the country. The five-star defensive end will enroll in January wherever he chooses.On the basketball side, Matt Moyer, a 6’7 power forward out of Columbus, Ohio also received an offer for the class of 2016. The offer from Andy Enfield is Moyer’s fifth offer, joining Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, Detroit and Dayton.

They said it:

“He continues to improve. It’s not easy. It’s not easy when you’re supposed to be a senior in high school, and you are blocking Antwaun Woods and those guys and Hayes Pullard. But he has steadily improved. I’ve been impressed with Toa and what he’s done as a true freshman.”

— Steve Sarkisian, on freshman lineman Toa Lobendahn

Tweets of the Day:

Morning Links:

• USC Football Recruiting: Should Trojans Take 2 Quarterbacks in 2015 Class? (Bleacher Report)
• USC Football: Final Winners and Losers from Spring Ball (Bleacher Report)
• USC Non-Revenue Sports Playoff Primer (Conquest Chronicles)
• Juco DL adjusts to new pace at USC (ESPN.com)
• Miami Dolphins Interest In WR Marqise Lee Grows (PhinPhanatic)