When Gabe Dynes committed to USC in April 2025, he traded Kentucky snow for 80-degree sunshine. For the 7-foot-5 center—7-foot-3 and three-quarters without shoes— it was more than just a basketball decision: it was a lifestyle upgrade.
“I really like it here, I love the weather,” Dynes told Annenberg Media. “It’s snowing in Kentucky and my mom sent me a video, so I’m really happy to be in LA where it’s like 80 degrees all the time.”
Living near the beach seemed unimaginable before. Now it’s his reality.
In September, head coach Eric Musselman took the team to Venice Beach for uniform photos and pickup games on the famed concrete court. For Dynes, one of nine transfers into the program, it was the perfect introduction to his new home.
The journey from Independence, Kentucky, to Los Angeles wasn’t overnight. Dynes arrived at Youngstown State unranked with everything to prove. His sophomore season reflected that: 104 blocks leading the nation, 3.1 blocks per game – ranking third nationally – and back-to-back Horizon League All-Defensive Team honors.
His mobility is remarkable for someone his size.
“I was 6-foot-3 my freshman year [in high school], and I’ve grown three inches every year since then,” he said.
No sudden growth spurt—just steady, gradual development that allowed him to maintain coordination. He also studied players like Chet Holmgren and Kevin Durant, analyzing how they moved.
“They’re both thin, super tall and mobile,” he said. “I was super thin and it annoyed me. I didn’t want to look like a weird and stiff big man. I wanted to be able to move like them.”
Now at 230 pounds, Dynes is targeting 240 to 250 to become a more physical, efficient scorer. At Youngstown State he averaged 6.8 points and 5.8 rebounds, but he’s determined to build on those numbers.
“I’m really coordinated for my size, but I haven’t really been able to show it because honestly just the roles I’ve been in. I stick to what I’m put in,” he said. “There’s always room to expand in any direction I really want to.”
His role at USC is still evolving.
“Everyone is trying to find their role so it’s hard to say what my role is because my two exhibition games looked different than my two regular season games so far. No one on our team has a set role yet.”
Playing at the Intuit Dome today will be a milestone.
“I’m super excited, never played in an NBA arena, only been to Chicago Bulls and Pacers arena, so it’s an honor,” Dynes said. “I’ve seen it a million times on TikTok and Instagram.”
Building chemistry on a roster with nine transfers requires intentionality.
“Unfortunately, that’s how college basketball is right now. It’s a whole new team every single year,” he said. “We know that going in so are intentional about bonding and when you leave practice going out of way to prioritize those relationships.”
Sleep is non-negotiable for Dynes.
“If I sleep eight hours, I don’t feel good the next day. So I sleep typically nine hours, but at the end of the week, I sleep 11 or 12 hours. I absolutely need my sleep and I feel terrible without it.”
He pushes back against the “grind mindset” that glorifies minimal sleep.
“Some people think the ‘grind mindset’ requires just five hours. But realistically when you’re an athlete, what I bring to the court is my body, so by sleeping I’m not being lazy. I’m taking care of what needs to be taken care of. It’s my job to take care of my body.”
Off the court, Dynes is a massive Attack on Titan fan.It’s not just his favorite anime, but his favorite show period. The nickname fits: “Beast Titan” for the towering center who dominates the paint. He appreciates the show’s intricate narrative structure, the foreshadowing, the callbacks—a well-written story where every detail matters.
As USC’s season unfolds, Dynes embraces the uncertainty.
“I’m excited to see how it all plays out,” he said.
From Kentucky snow to California sunshine, from unranked recruit to Big Ten center, he is writing his own well-crafted story—one block, one beach day, one nine-hour sleep at a time.
You can watch Annenberg Media’s interview with Gabe Dynes here.