USC’s Guenther May Play Only Basketball

Gregg Guenther, who played football and basketball for USC the last three years, will probably play only basketball this season, Trojan football coaches said Tuesday.

The 6-foot-8 Guenther finished last season as the starting tight end after Dominique Byrd suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Guenther, who averaged 5.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19 games last season as a forward-center for the basketball team, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Coach Pete Carroll said Guenther had not informed him that he was quitting football, but acknowledged that Guenther’s father had recently spoken to him about the possibility.

Offensive coordinator Norm Chow said the Trojans’ depth at tight end would ease Guenther’s departure. Alex Holmes, the starter in 2002, is returning after missing last season with a back injury suffered in the 2003 Orange Bowl.

“It’s one area we can afford to take a hit,” Chow said.

Guenther has a football scholarship but would have to receive a basketball scholarship or pay his own tuition to play only basketball.

Trojan basketball Coach Henry Bibby, through a school spokesman, declined to comment about Guenther’s status because all 13 scholarships for next season are spoken for.

-- Gary Klein and Paul Gutierrez