Door Still Open For Awol Jones

From all indications, Avondre Jones’ college basketball career at the University of Southern California is in jeopardy - due, in no small part, to Jones’ decision to go AWOL following last week’s announcement that Trojans coach Charlie Parker had been fired.

But interim coach Henry Bibby hinted Tuesday the door is still open if Jones decides to return.

Bibby, who is 0-2 as Parker’s mid-season replacement, said he has made of couple of calls to Jones’ parents but still hasn’t heard directly from the 6-foot-11 center since he left the team prior to last Thursday’s game against Stanford.

There is speculation that Jones’ quit in protest of athletic director Mike Garrett’s decision to drop the axe on Parker. But Bibby said the Jones’ departure might also have something to do with his budding career as a rap singer.

“Looking back over the whole scenario, I’m not sure Avondre’s been into basketball the whole year,” Bibby said. “He’s a big rap star and he’s been working on that.

“He’s been dividing his energy between the two (basketball and music). And right now, he’s probably being more successful - in his mind, at least - being a music star than a basketball player.”

Still thinking postseason

Despite an injury-plagued season that has produced a disappointing 11-8 record, Washington State coach Kevin Eastman refuses to write off his team’s postseason tournament chances.

“Right now, we’re not even talking about it with (the team),” Eastman said prior to Tuesday night’s non-conference road game against Idaho. “We’re just trying to work on getting the best record we can relative to the circumstances that have occurred.

“Obviously, we got into the NIT last year with a 16-win season and that’s a gettable total for us again this year, I think.”

Because of his team’s 4-7 record and sixth-place conference standing, Eastman said he attached Pac-10 importance to Tuesday night’s non-league game against Idaho.

“There is no conference for us right now,” he explained. “We have just eight games and we can’t win the Pac-10, that’s out of the question. So every one of those eight is important.”

Back pain is gone, butt …

The back problems that have been such a royal pain in the butt throughout much of Alfred Grigsby’s college basketball career have finally dissipated. But now California’s senior forward has another problem - a real pain in the butt.

Grigsby, a 6-9, 235-pounder who has played only a handful of games following off-season back surgery, is scheduled to fly to Los Angeles later this week to have a doctor look at his latest ailment.

“He doesn’t have a problem in his back right now,” explained Golden Bears coach Todd Bozeman. “There is just a muscle in his buttocks right now that is a little tight and we’re trying to relieve that.

“Once that’s cleared up, he’ll be cleared to play.”

Grigsby, who started 45 games and averaged just over 10 points and six rebounds a game in his first two years at Cal, has played in only 18 games the last three seasons.

Meet with this

UCLA’s Jelani McCoy apparently holds meetings with his coach in the same disdain as opposing post players.

The 6-10 freshman center was supposed to meet with coach Jim Harrick on Monday after turning in a series of sub-par performances that included only 10 rebounds in four games.

But before Harrick could even strike up a conversation prior to practice, McCoy walked by and said, “I’m back.”

He then proceeded to score 19 points and pull down 13 rebounds in a split with California and Stanford on the team’s Bay Area road swing.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo