USC newcomer Gabe Dynes ready to provide needed frontcourt boost

Entering into his second year at USC, coach Eric Musselman has a Trojan roster that is ready to take that next step. Getting a new collection of talent to see eye-to-eye early on and start playing cohesive basketball can be a challenge. That is likely to be an area of emphasis for coach Musselman during the July months.

When everything starts to click, it will certainly be a more competitive Trojan side, and they will look to make a push into the NCAA tournament.

One area that needs to see improvement from last year is the frontcourt. Particularly on defense, being able to compete against some of the forwards and centers in the Big Ten and not allowing them to completely take over a game can be a difficult challenge. There is the need to limit the opposing 4s and 5s from scoring, though, even if outright stopping them is rarely something that can be expected.

To help in the overall frontcourt department, Gabe Dynes arrived on the USC campus from Youngstown. While speaking with reporters following Wednesday's practice, coach Musselman shared the positives that he has seen from the transfer up to this point.

Significant development from USC center

Already standing at 7'3", the Trojan HC noted how Dynes has gained approximately 17 lbs. since arriving in Troy. Coach Musselman also mentioned how impressed he is with the center as a rebounder, explaining that Dynes is showing the ability to do that at a high level as well.

These are all aspects that speak to Dynes' skill set but also his willingness to do what's needed to position himself to be able to best help his team. 

Coming off a season in which he averaged 3.1 blocks per game, Dynes already displayed his impact down low defensively. Now bulked up, it sounds like he will be ready to directly help one of the areas of weakness that USC wanted to see improved for the 2025-2026 season.