USC Basketball Relies on New Blood as Injuries Threaten Depth
The Trojans enter the season ranked 21st with a young roster that includes two seven-footers and a star son of an NBA All-Star.
By Nadia Singh ·
USC men’s basketball faces a complex challenge as it opens the 2026-27 season. The Trojans are attempting to translate a 12th-place finish in the Big Ten into a higher national standing, currently holding the No. 21 spot in the AP Top 25 preseason poll. This climb requires a team that is significantly younger and relies heavily on unproven talent to match the physical standards established by last year’s roster.
The squad retains three primary contributors: 6-foot-5 guard Rodney Rice, 6-foot-7 guard Alijah Arenas, and 6-foot-10 forward Jacob Cofie. They are joined by three freshmen McDonald’s All-Americans: Christian Collins and the Ratliff twins, Adonis and Darius. This influx of young athletes creates a roster with substantial size, as six players stand at least 6-foot-10.
Arenas, the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, enters his sophomore year after a difficult debut. A torn meniscus sidelined him for the first half of last season, and a single-car crash in April 2025 hospitalized him for six days due to smoke inhalation. His shooting percentages last year were 34.1% from the field and 21.3% from three-point range. Head coach Eric Musselman stated that Rice and the coaching staff helped restore Arenas’s confidence during the offseason.
The Ratliff twins have already integrated into the starting lineup during exhibition play. Adonis Ratliff, who is 6-foot-11, recorded eight points and six rebounds in two starts. Darius Ratliff, who is 7-foot, accumulated 27 points and 16 rebounds in three starts. Musselman secured both recruits, noting their ability to provide energy and size in the paint.
Depth remains a concern due to current injuries. Center Eric Reibe is recovering from foot surgery and is expected to return in January. Freshman forward Christian Collins is also dealing with a foot injury, and his return timeline is unknown. These absences force the coaching staff to manage the playing time of the available core group.
The team must also adjust its style of play. Last season, the Trojans averaged 18.8 points per game from the free-throw line, aided by the aggressiveness of forward Ezra Ausar. Ausar signed with the Miami Heat on Oct. 15, removing a key component of that physical identity. Musselman acknowledged that the current group is young and still developing its physical edge.
USC will begin its season at the Galen Center on Monday at 7:30 p.m. against Milwaukee. The matchup will test the depth of the roster and the readiness of the new recruits to handle Big Ten competition.
