USC football: Eighth-grade quarterback David Sills remains committed to USC | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

USC CoachLane Kiffinmade news last year when, shortly after being hired at USC, he offered a scholarship toDavid Sills, a then-seventh-grade quarterback from Delaware.

Sills made a verbal commitment to the Trojans and started for Red Lion Christian Academy last season as an eighth-grader.

Sills' Southern California-based private quarterback coach,Steve Clarkson, caused a minor stir Monday when he told The Times'Eric Sondheimerthat Auburn had offered Sills a scholarship.

But Sills' father, also named David, told me that his son has not been offered a scholarship by the Bowl Championship Series titlists, who have offered a scholarship to another Red Lion player.

"David was not offered by Auburn," the elder Sills said in a phone interview."We have a very good relationship with their coaches. They all know he wants to go to USC. It's his dream school and he's made it very clear he's committed to USC."

Sills' father said his son would attend a few weeks of spring practice at USC.

--Gary Klein

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Super Bowl ads: The best commercials | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Here's a look at some of the best Super Bowl commercials from Sunday's game:

-- Austin Knoblauch

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UCLA basketball: Bruins hold 29-26 halftime lead in Steve Lavin's return | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

He's baaaack!

Steve Lavinreturned to Pauley Pavilion on Saturday morning, and the former UCLA coach appeared to have his St. John's team poised for a romp before the slow-starting Bruins stormed back to take a 29-26 halftime lead.

Freshman center Joshua Smithscored 12 points on four dunks, a layup and a pair of free throws for UCLA, which closed the half on an 18-7 run after trailing by as many as nine points in the early going. Freshman guardTyler Lambadded a pair of three-pointers off the bench for the Bruins, who held an 18-9 rebounding edge but committed nine turnovers to three for the Red Storm.

Dwight Hardyhad 16 points, making seven of nine shots, but no other player had more than four points for St. John's, which held leads of 13-4 and 19-11 before the Bruins rallied.

Lavin spent several minutes before the game exchanging hugs and handshakes with old friends, includingTyus Edney, the hero of UCLA's national title run in 1995 who is now director of basketball operations for the Bruins.

A Bruins yell leader poked fun at Lavin before tip-off, taking a courtside microphone and shouting,"Let's remind Steve Lavin exactly what it feels like to lose at Pauley Pavilion."

--Ben Bolch

Photo: UCLA guard Tyler Lamb forces St. John's guard Dwight Hardy to stop his drive in the first half Saturday at Pauley Pavilion. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

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USC football: School officials warn athletes not to attend Everson Griffen's Super Bowl trip to Las Vegas | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Former USC defensive endEverson Griffencontinues to keep the Trojans in the news— though not for reasons the school would like.

USC administrators on Thursday sent e-mails to football players and all other school athletes prohibiting them from attending a trip to Las Vegas this weekend organized by Griffen.

Griffen, who played for USC from 2007 to 2009, was arrested Monday and wasbooked on suspicion of felony battery after an incident in which he allegedly grabbed an officer’s crotch during an altercation after a traffic stop near campus. Police used a Taser to subdue Griffen, who recently completed his first season with the Minnesota Vikings. Prosecutors said they wouldrefer the case to the city attorney's office for possible misdemeanor filing because Griffen does not have a criminal record and because the officer he allegedly grabbed was uninjured.

The e-mail, sent Thursday by Athletic DirectorPat Hadenand vice president for athletic complianceDave Roberts, read:

“It has come to our attention that a current NFL player and former USC student-athlete, Everson Griffen, along withJordan Campbell, a former student-athlete who is or was affiliated with First Round Entertainment, have arranged for and are promoting a Super Bowl Weekend trip to Las Vegas over the Super Bowl weekend (February 4–6).

“Because of the NCAA rules concerning gambling, impermissible extra benefits and the conduct of agents, we believe that there is a significant chance that the eligibility of any student-athlete who participates in such a trip would be jeopardized.

“Therefore, you are not permitted to partake or participate in the Super Bowl Weekend trip that has been arranged and promoted by Mr. Griffen or Mr. Campbell under any circumstances.”

Campbell was suspended from USC’s team last year for violating team rules and transferred to Louisville. 1st Round Entertainment is owned byTeague Egan, a USC student who was an NFL agent before he was decertified in December by the NFL Players Assn., for providing Trojans tailbackDillon Baxterwith a golf cart ride on campus. Egan is appealing the ruling.

Neither Griffin nor Campbell could be reached for comment.

In a text message, Griffen told ESPNLosAngeles.com, which first reported about the e-mail:"I'm a businessman. I'm trying to start my promoting business, I'm not doing everything at all. Just bring everyone down to Vegas for superbowl weekend for 100 dollars.

"I'm not paying for anything."

--Gary Klein

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Ndamukong Suh is NFL rookie of the year | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh became the first defensive player to win the NFL rookie of the year award Thursday. The second overall pick in last year's draft, Suh is the second rookie ever to register 10 sacks.

"It's truly an honor, it's the NFL," said Suh, a Pro Bowl starter who also had 66 tackles, one forced fumble, an interception and one fumble returned for a touchdown."I'm glad I can take this home to Detroit."

Suh beat out four other finalists, including St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, who was the top draft pick overall and set a rookie record for pass attempts and completions.

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--  Chuck Schilken

Reuters contributed to this report.

Photo: Ndamukong Suh holds the trophy after he was named as the NFL rookie of the year. Credit: Mike Stone / Reuters

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Recruiting: USC announces 22-player class | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

USC CoachLane Kiffinannounced a 22-player recruiting class Wednesday while awaiting an announcement from Crenshaw's De'Anthony Thomas.

When asked if USC had achieved its goal of building a wall around Southern California, Kiffin said,"I don't think we know yet."

USC, which had eight players enroll in January, added nearly two dozen more despite NCAA sanctions that could keep the Trojans out of a bowl game again this season.

Gardena Serra receiverGeorge Farmerleads the class, which includes five defensive linemen and four offensive linemen.

I'll have more later at latimes.com/sports.

--Gary Klein

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USC basketball: Trojans Athletic Director Pat Haden nearly beats forward Alex Stepheson in a free-throw contest | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

USC senior forwardAlex Stepheson is not what you'd call a good free-throw shooter.

AMark Price(career 90.4% free-throw shooter) he is not.

Nor is heRay Allen(89.3%) orReggie Miller(88.8%).

At times, he's barely as good asShaquille O'Neal(52.7%), which explains why opposing teams foul Stepheson at the end of close games. 

Stepheson, who has shot below 50% from the line in each of the last three seasons, including 48.5% (33 for 68) this season, is reminded of this particular shortcoming by the sporting press quite often.

But before practice Tuesday the 6-foot-10, 250-pound Los Angeles native entered into a situation in which whatever credibility he had was all at the line, which is the last place he should have put it. 

Then, USC Athletic DirectorPat Haden, a former college and NFL quarterback, engaged Stepheson in a free-throw contest. Stepheson accepted.

Haden took off his jacket and strolled to the free-throw line wearing dress shoes, slacks, a button-up shirt and a tie. He proved that basketball was not his specialty, missing his first few shots badly, but Stepheson missed his first few attempts, too, perhaps succumbing to the pressure as everyone in the Galen Center had stopped to watch the matchup of futility. 

Eventually, Haden hit two in a row, but Stepheson then hit three in a row and won by that margin.

After practice, Stepheson was glowing, as if he'd just won the Super Bowl.

"I was kind of nervous," he said."I didn't want to play him to begin with. I knew he was going to make a couple. But I stepped up to the challenge nicely, got the win. I came through under pressure. I want to say it was a landslide, but I think that might be a lie." 

-- Baxter Holmes

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