The 6-10 forward has never been a guy to put up big numbers for the Trojans, but he earned his scholarship and played hard for four years.

By Chris Foster
December 28, 2008

This is another one of those moments where it is handy to have Keith Wilkinson around. USC Coach Tim Floyd learned that about the big lug of a forward a few years ago, after giving Wilkinson a one-year promise that has become a four-year run. But another reminder comes today, when the Trojans play Oral Roberts at the Galen Center.

The Trojans go into the game without power forward Leonard Washington, who is out two to four weeks with a high ankle sprain. They have Mamadou Diarra, a 7-foot freshman, and Nikola Vucevic, a 6-10 freshman, who can absorb some minutes. Both are still experiencing collegiate basketball growing pains.

So the safe and sane call probably will be the 6-10 Wilkinson, a senior who burrowed his way into the program. The reason is simple. "Once you put him out there, he'll figure out a way to impact the game," USC guard Daniel Hackett said. "He might not make shots, but he does other things that people don't see."
That is how Wilkinson has managed to carve out a career with the Trojans, by doing stuff. If you need a rebound, call on him. If you need someone clapping on the bench, turn to him. If there is an ice bucket in your bed, well, start by questioning him.

Wilkinson has immersed himself in the program to keep his head above water. He had few offers coming out of Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley High in 2005. Floyd, meanwhile, had nine scholarships, and a need for players. But there was a string attached. "We didn't want to be married to nine guys that first year," Floyd said. "It was the spring signing date and typically those guys are left over for a reason. Most guys sign in November.

"We told Keith that if he wanted to tell his grandkids one day that he played in the Pac-10, then come on. But we were not going to commit to him for four years. We told his parents and Keith that for him to continue on scholarship, he had to prove he was a guy who could play against Arizona and UCLA."

Wilkinson was re-upped for his sophomore year. Then, after a victory over Arizona that season, Floyd stopped practice. Said Wilkinson: "He said, 'Keith call your parents and tell them you're going to be here. There will be no one-year deals.' " He hadn't scored a point and had only one rebound in the Arizona game. He merely played 14 solid minutes. That was enough.

"He was a guy that any time he got into a game, the game never got worse," Floyd said. "Guys coming off the bench, that's a talent in itself. To see the game, understand what's going on out there and challenge yourself to make sure that the team increases its lead. You're able to trust Keith in a game."

Wilkinson studied the art as a freshman. He knew he was way down the list when it came to talent, so he tried to outlast everyone.

"I was the first guy in the gym and the last guy to leave," Wilkinson said. 'I was undersized, skinny, too young, all that. But I knew I wanted to be here and was going to do everything I could to make them keep me." That took different kinds of effort.

Wilkinson prepped himself to play, and sometimes he did. He logged 32 minutes against Arizona as a freshman. The next game, he barely got off the bench. He learned to be prepared that way.

Off the court, he was a model teammate, though one who at times has found himself at the end of some finger pointing.

"When we went on the road my freshman year, the big thing was someone put a full ice bucket in your bed," Hackett said. "Keith was in on that. Guys would have their cellphones hidden, stuff like that. You'd usually look at Keith first." He denied involvement in such shenanigans, but did so with a suspicious grin. Whether he did or didn't, he fit in.

"You just love having the guy around," Floyd said. "He grinded away and has gotten better. He has also set the tone for work ethic that has helped us create a culture of improvement."

Wilkinson has done so without ever scoring in double figures. His career high is nine, against Washington in 2007. He had a career-best 11 rebounds against Oregon last season.

"I have been here four years," he said. "Sometimes I get 30 minutes a game, sometimes five minutes a game. But I try to make plays, defend, maybe knock down an open shot when it's there. My job is to just be an all-around good player."