How and with whom Eric Musselman rebuilt USC's basketball roster

I was as shocked as any fan when the “Muss Bus” departed Arkansas for Southern California after five seasons leading the Razorbacks. Conversely, USC made it clear the school was seeking a significant hire for the football program that rivaled Lincoln Riley’s. Eric Musselman was the Trojans’ guy, and since his arrival, the head coach has gone to great measures to put USC basketball back on the map.

Musselman and “The Portal House”

Luca Evans recently published a fantastic story recapping Musselman’s move to Los Angeles. Upon arrival, the USC head coach and assistant coaches moved into a Manhattan Beach rental property for 30 days. Their goal: Develop a recruiting strategy.

Musselman reflected on the month by referring to the rental property as a “Portal House.”

The head coach and his assistants stayed up late, scouring through lists of transfer portal talent. Of course, the USC basketball roster was practically empty following the coaching change. Thus, the pressure was on Musselman and his staff to build a new team from scratch.

Musselman’s staff coordinated many official visits and eventually landed 12 transfer players critical to building the next phase of USC basketball.

Players who transferred to USC this offseason

• SG Wesley Yates, Freshman: Transferred from Washington
• PG Desmond Claude, Sophomore: Transferred from Xavier
• SF Kevin Patton Jr., Freshman: Transferred from San Diego
• PF Terrance Williams, Senior: Transferred from Michigan
• SF Kevin Patton Jr., Freshman: Transferred from San Diego
• PF Rashaun Agee, Senior: Transferred from Bowling Green
• SF Chibuzo Agbo Jr., Senior: Transferred from Boise State
• SF Saint Thomas, Junior: Transferred from Northern Colorado
• PF Matt Knowling, Senior: Transferred from Yale
• PG Bryce Pope, Senior: Transferred from UC San Diego
• PG Clark Slajchert, Senior: Transferred from Pennsylvania
• C Josh Cohen, Senior: Transferred from UMass Amherst

USC basketball started summer practices last week, during which Musselman informed the media that Claude was recovering from elbow surgery.

Meanwhile, most Trojans from the Andy Enfield era have moved onto new programs except for Oziyah Sellers and Kijani Wright, who still need to decide on new destinations. Of course, the most notable former USC player, Bronny James, is working out for pro teams ahead of the NBA Draft.