For the second time, academic issues are keeping defensive end Alfy Hill of Shallotte, N.C., from joining an SEC program.

Hill's former coach at West Brunswick High School said Thursday that his fall semester grade report was not good enough for him to transfer to USC.

"It's basically his GPA," Jimmy Fletcher said.

Hill attended Los Angeles Valley Junior College last year but will take classes at a community college near his North Carolina home this semester. Fletcher said there was no reason for Hill to return to California because he could not improve his situation enough there to quality for a Division One scholarship.

Fletcher confirmed that Hill plans to enroll at Division Two UNC-Pembroke in the fall.

He did say USC recruiter Brad Lawing is still exploring what, if any, options remain for Hill and USC, so the door has not been totally closed.

Hill signed with Alabama as a high school senior and actually enrolled there and took classes before the NCAA ruled him ineligible. He then enrolled briefly at East Carolina and then later a junior college in Mississippi before heading west.