USC basketball: Fordham transfer Jio Fontan enrolls at USC

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Jio Fontan, a transfer from Fordham University, has enrolled at USC and will be eligible after the first semester of the 2010-11 season, the school announced today.

The Times reported that Fontan had transferred from Fordham to USC in December.

The 6-foot-1 Paterson, N.J., native led Fordham in scoring (15.3 points) as a freshman and was named the Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball rookie of the year. As a sophomore, Fontan played in five games and averaged 15 points and 4.2 assists.

Fontan had tried to transfer from Fordham following the Rams’ 3-25 season last year. He announced he would be leaving the school earlier in December.

When he becomes eligible after the first semester of next season, Fontan -- known as a combo guard who can handle the ball, drive and shoot from three-point range -- is expected to start alongside point-guard recruit Maurice Jones of Saginaw, Mich.

Fontan graduated from St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, N.J., where he lettered for three years under Coach Bob Hurley. He led his team to a 32-0 record and the No. 1 ranking in both the USA Today Super 25 and the ESPN High Elite 25 polls in 2007-08 season.

Fontan was ranked the No. 13 point-guard recruit in the nation by Scout.com for the 2008 class.

-- Baxter Holmes