Ruben Report: USC basketball insights from House of Victory’s Legends of Troy event
Most of the attention Monday night at House of Victory’s Legends of Troy event was (rightly) focused on football and the many sensational former USC Trojan players who were present. It doesn’t get bigger than Ronnie Lott. That said, I gained some very interesting insights about the men’s basketball team.
No other Trojan coach works the room as well as Eric Musselman. He is very engaging and happy to talk to everyone. There were some other new basketball staff members present along with Will Conroy, the newest assistant coaching hire. Only a couple of basketball alums made the event — most notably, Sam Clancy.
The most important thing I was told was mentioned twice by different people associated with the program. They are expecting “multiple” big-name commitments this week and it’s believed the Trojans are still under consideration by Kentuck transfer DJ Wagner.
Monday’s commitment to USC by Terrance Williams II seems to be the first domino. Williams played more than 33 minutes per game for Michigan last season and is leaving after four years in Ann Arbor, the last two as a starter. At 6-foot-7, Williams fits the mold of players Eric Musselman has said he likes, interchangeable 6-foot-5 – 6-foot-8 players who can play multiple positions. Muss has also said he doesn’t necessarily need a single point guard to run his offense and that he likes multiple players that have the ability to bring the ball up court.
Williams averaged over 12 points last season, almost 5 boards and shot just under 40% from three. Muss now has eight portal players committed and Williams is the first from a big name program though the Wolverines struggled last season. Williams along with big man Josh Cohen and forward Saint Thomas appear to be the transfer stars so far.
I was also told that Muss is on the verge of adding the final assistant to his staff. The expected hire has west coast ties and the announcement is expected soon.
The staff is recruiting every day and when the roster for this coming season is finalized the recruiting blitz will focus on high school seniors. They are recruiting from high schools now but it will be full-time soon. With only the two incoming freshman players who have more than one season of eligibility, the staff realizes they can’t have another off-season trying to fill out almost an entire roster.
As an aside, I’ve been told that the assistant coaches are all living together in a rented house in Manhattan Beach while the recruiting blitz continues. Apparently, the USC staff is living a fraternity flashback.
I also had an opportunity to talk to Sam Clancy. He has been an assistant coach for the Cavs’ G League team this season; with the season over he has joined the Cavs for the playoffs. Sam recently completed a twenty year professional career. Sam said that Isaiah Mobley had a good season mostly in the G League on a two way contract and has been continuing to improve and learning to use his great court vision to make up what he lacks in athleticism.
Will Conroy is very engaging. He had a very good career as a player at Washington and completed nine seasons on the Huskies’ staff before the head coach and the entire staff was let go this Spring. Will was the associate head coach the last few seasons and is known as a good recruiter.
Sam came by while I was talking to Will and Will said a couple of times that he played against Sam in the Coliseum. We got it straightened out that they actually played in the old Sports Arena. I asked who won and Will said the Trojans killed them. He remembered the players on those Trojan teams that made an Elite Eight run. Sam teased that it was the only USC trip to the Elite Eight until I reminded him about the Evan Mobley team and he had a good laugh.
And One
It will take everyone a few games this fall to begin to recognize a totally new team and coaching staff. I’m optimistic that Muss will be a success at USC but it will likely take a year or two to build a team capable of contending in the Big 10.
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