Projecting Who's Staying and Who's Leaving from USC After Missing NCAA Tournament

USC entered the 2023-24 men's college basketball season with three straight trips to the NCAA tournament, but the streak is over.

After a 14-17 regular season, a loss to Oregon at the Pac-12 tournament ended the Trojans' frustrating year. There was an early setback to Long Beach State, a six-game skid in January and few marquee wins until a too-little-too-late upset of Arizona in March.

And now, change is coming.

Not only is USC leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, the roster is preparing to lose a couple of NBA-bound players.

Ahead, we'll predict which players will return or leave the Trojans, along with previewing the incoming recruiting class.

Because the Trojans fell short of reasonably high expectations, head coach Andy Enfield will be on a hotter seat in 2024-25. Still, he should return for a 12th season at USC.

The roster will be needing some breakout players, though.

Kobe Johnson, a rising senior, averaged 10.8 points and 3.3 assists this season. Right now, it seems he'd be USC's top scorer.

Beyond him, a cast of reserves should be back. Vincent Iwuchukwu can slide into a starting job at center with Oziyah Sellers, Kijani Wright, Harrison Hornery and Arrinten Page vying for expanded roles. Each one played between 10-16 minutes per night in 2023-24.

Brandon Gardner, who earned a top-100 ranking in the 2023 recruiting class, is another potential rotation piece to know.

The marquee departure will likely be Isaiah Collier, who averaged 16.6 points and 4.2 assists in his freshman year. B/R's Jonathan Wasserman recently projected him as the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

Additionally, top scorer Boogie Wells and fellow seniors Joshua Morgan and DJ Rodman have used up their eligibility. They all started 20-plus games this season.

And then, we have Bronny James.

Strictly from a basketball view, he could use another year in college. But with LeBron James nearing the end of his legendary NBA career, there is a strong possibility The King's oldest son heads to the pros.

While I won't predict a certain player to transfer out, that possibility clearly looms in the busy portal era.

The headliner of USC's 14th-ranked class is Trent Perry, a 4-star guard who landed an McDonald's All-American invitation. He's a local product from Harvard-Westlake and ranked No. 51 nationally.

Liam Campbell, the No. 93 overall player in this cycle, will be joining Perry in the Trojans' backcourt.

Rounding out the group is 4-star forward Brody Kozlowski, an offensively minded wing. Both he and Campbell are most expected to contribute as perimeter options, which USC may desperately covet from them as freshmen after the departures of Ellis and Rodman.

USC should also be active in the transfer portal, but especially so if James elects to enter the NBA draft.