USC men’s basketball brought the NBA to campus Thursday, holding its first-ever pro day at its practice facility inside the Galen Center in response to requests from NBA organizations.
Scouts representing more than half of the NBA’s 30 teams watched courtside as the Trojans worked through shooting, defensive and conditioning drills. Representatives from the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs were just a few among those analyzing USC’s new-look roster.
Now entering his third season, head coach Eric Musselman is working with his third reshaped roster.
“I think we had some NBA teams that wanted us to do something, which is a good sign,” Musselman said. “But it’s good for our players. Good exposure for our guys and great timing to break things up. ”
USC has produced 65 NBA draft selections, including recent first-round picks Isaiah Collier at No. 29 in 2024 and Evan Mobley at No. 3 in 2021. Thursday’s showcase gave the next group of Trojans the chance to put themselves on that same path.
Junior forward Jacob Cofie and sophomore guard Alijah Arenas already know what it is like to draw interest from the next level. Both tested the NBA draft process in April before withdrawing and returning to USC for another season.
“I’m really, really excited. Pro day means a lot to us,” Arenas said. “It’s just the chance for everybody to show what they can do and show the grind.”
For Arenas, the showcase also represented a fresh start. The former five-star recruit missed USC’s first 18 games last season while recovering from knee surgery, then played through an ankle injury after his debut.
Now fully healthy, Arenas has returned as what Musselman described as “a completely different player,” even adding seven inches to his vertical jump.
“Honestly, it’s just going back on track,” Arenas said. “You know, being able to learn, being able to study, being able to get better every single day, every single practice, every single moment.”
Cofie also returned to USC with greater confidence after advancing from the NBA G League Camp to the NBA Draft Combine. Last season, the forward led the Trojans in rebounds and blocks while averaging 9.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game on 51% shooting from the field. In three separate games, he recorded career highs of 23 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks.
“If I was able to do that against pros, against the best of the best college players, I should be able to dominate at a college level,” Cofie said. “I feel like I can do that and I’m just ready for the season.”
The expectations go beyond USC’s two returning draft prospects. With the nation’s No.5 recruiting class, two McDonald All-Americans, three returners and seven transfers, the Trojans are reshaping their lineup after finishing last season 12th in the Big Ten with an 18-14 record.
“The difference between this team, it’s a lot younger but (has) a lot more talent. So, I think we can run multiple different lineups,” Cofie said. “I feel like last year, we had to run with certain lineups that didn’t fit what we wanted to do just off of what we had.”
USC has already landed inside multiple preseason rankings, including No.11 by ESPN and No. 13 for Fox Sports. The early recognition marks a shift from last season, where the Trojans fell just short of the preseason rankings.
While the scouts got their first look Thursday, USC will get its first chance to meet those buzzing expectations when it opens the preseason in its first exhibition game against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at the First Horizon Coliseum on Oct. 9.
Edited by Adriana Brady and Bennett M. Weinschenk