USC’s ‘Baby Jordan’ : Miner Has the Look of a Superstar but Wants to Establish Own Identity

COLLEGE PARK, Md. —  It starts with the jersey, No. 23. Then there are the state-of-the-art baggy shorts. And, of course, the wagging tongue.

Michael Jordan isn’t coming to Cole Field House. Harold Miner is.

Miner--one of college basketball’s top shooting guards, and certainly one of its most unknown stars--will lead USC (1-0) against Maryland (1-0) tonight.

“I think it’ll come,” Miner said of his recognition, which so far has been limited mostly to the West Coast. “I’m not worried about the publicity. People will begin to take notice.”

What people have noticed about Miner so far is his affection for Jordan. He is like thousands of youngsters who grew up watching, idolizing and trying to play like Jordan.

But make no mistake: Miner is no cheap imitation.

“That kid is going to be a great player,” Maryland Coach Gary Williams said last season after Miner scored 25 points but missed a desperation shot at the buzzer in the Terrapins’ 64-62 victory in Los Angeles.

As a freshman, the 6-5 Miner averaged a team-high 20.6 points for the Trojans, was named Pacific-10 Rookie of the Year and first-team all-league and was called the best USC guard since Gus Williams.

He also was being called by the nickname that began at Inglewood High School and the surrounding playgrounds--”Baby Jordan.” A source of pride at first, it has become a bit embarrassing.

“I’m sort of getting tired of it,” Miner said. “I can’t be the next Michael Jordan. I just want to be the next Harold Miner. There is only one Michael Jordan. I just want to get the best out of my God-given abilities.”

Legend has it that Miner met his idol at a summer basketball camp in 1986. “Air Jordan” took “Baby Jordan” out on the court, and the prodigy took a 4-0 lead in a game to five.

“I went up for a jump shot, he caught the ball in midair and went over me for a dunk,” Miner said. “I didn’t see the ball after that.”

Miner is a major reason the Trojans, who went from horrible to almost respectable (12-16) by the end of last season, were picked to be in the middle of the Pac-10 this year.

He also is one of the reasons USC Coach George Raveling likely will get a new contract at the end of this season.

“Most of us live in search of what God put us on earth to do; I don’t think there is any doubt what Harold is here to do--play basketball,” Raveling has said. “It’s like one of those underwater explorers. They know the ship is down there. They know there’s gold on it. They’ve just got to find it. That’s how we see Harold. He’s such a valuable commodity.”

Miner could have gone to three of the country’s most celebrated programs--North Carolina, UCLA or Kansas--but instead chose a team that had gone a combined 17-43 in Raveling’s first two seasons.

“A lot of people were shocked when I went there,” said Miner, who scored 29 points in a season-opening victory Saturday against Chicago State. “I wanted to go someplace where I could play right away, somewhere I could make a difference. I didn’t want to get lost in the shuffle like a lot of guys from my neighborhood.”

“Baby Jordan” is growing up.