Source: Omar Oraby headed to USC

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LOS ANGELES -- Center Omar Oraby has verbally committed to transfer from Rice to USC, a source close to the Trojans program told ESPNLosAngeles.com on Wednesday.

The 7-foot-2 Oraby averaged 6.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and a team-high 1.6 blocks as a sophomore last season for Rice. He announced his plans to transfer last week and visited USC earlier this week before committing to the Trojans on Wednesday.

Oraby, a native of Egypt, will enroll in classes by Friday, the university-wide deadline to begin the fall semester. He will start attending classes Monday.

USC also plans to submit a hardship waiver to the NCAA for Oraby to be eligible to play this season, a source said. If the waiver is not granted, he'll sit out this season and will begin play next season for the Trojans with two years of eligibility remaining.

The scholarship for Oraby was cleared by the departure of USC guard Maurice Jones, who became academically ineligible Sept. 1. Trojans coach Kevin O'Neill confirmed to ESPNLosAngeles.com on Wednesday that Jones plans to transfer.

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