Nikola Vucevic has come a long way

USC has had some players make some noise in the NBA.

I am not sure how many thought Nikola Vucevic would be one of those players.

This is an interesting read...

DeMar DeRozan seemed to be everything Nikola Vucevic was not.

DeRozan arrived at USC in 2008 as one of the most-hyped prep prospects in the nation, surrounded by an entourage that included rapper Percy "Lil’ Romeo" Miller. DeRozan had a vertical leap that made him a SportsCenter highlight waiting to happen.

The closest Vucevic came to SportsCenter was religiously watching the nightly sports news program from his Troy East apartment, desperate to learn English to communicate with his peers.

Yet the two former teammates found themselves hugging before a November game between DeRozan’s Toronto Raptors and Vucevic’s Orlando Magic at the Air Canada Centre.

According to Vucevic, "DeMar said, ‘Man, you have come a long way. When you were a freshman, nobody knew who you were, and you did not play a lot. Now you are starting in the NBA.’

"I did not really think about it until then," Vucevic mused.

I really don't watch much of the NBA, but even I know that Vucevic has had more of an impact than DeRozan...maybe even more than OJ Mayo.

This is one of those great stories that hopefully Andy Enfield can use as he builds the USC basketball program.

Sometimes great play comes when you least expect it.

FIGHT ON!