Basketball recruit Williams is released from USC

Jun 16, 2009 - 12:55 AM LOS ANGELES(AP) -- Forward Derrick Williams has requested and been granted a release from his basketball letter of intent to play at Southern California.

Williams, from nearby La Mirada High, joins guard Lamont Jones, from Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., as recruits who have changed their minds since Tim Floyd resigned last week as basketball coach.

The university announced Williams' release on Monday.

The basketball program is under investigation by the NCAA involving allegations that Floyd paid to have O.J. Mayo delivered to the Trojans.

Since the Trojans' season ended in March, starters DeMar DeRozan, Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett, along with Marcus Johnson, declared for next week's NBA draft, and the Trojans have lost seven recruits.