University Southern California Trojans
USC Men's Basketball Signs Jalen Cox
May 11, 2026 | Men's Basketball
The 6-foot-3 guard returns home to Los Angeles after three seasons at Colgate.
LOS ANGELES — USC Men's Basketball added rising senior guard Jalen Cox to the roster for the 2026-27 season, Head Coach Eric Musselman announced today, May 11.
"We are excited to welcome Jalen to our Trojan Family," Musselman said. "Jalen provides us with an incredible spark at the guard position. Jalen does an incredible job both as a scorer and as a distributor, leaving his mark on the offensive end. Jalen fits how we want to play on offense, being a high free-throw attempt player. Jalen will add to our aggressive defensive style with his ability to guard multiple positions and force turnovers with his ability to steal the basketball."
A 6-foot-3 guard from Los Angeles, Cox returns home after spending three years at Colgate, where he was a two-time All-Patriot League and Patriot League All-Defensive Team selection. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged a career-high 17.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, the latter of which led the Patriot League. He shot a career-best 52.1% from the field and 36.5% from three, an improvement over his 29.4% clip from the year prior. On3 rated him a four-star transfer portal prospect earlier this spring, which gives USC another highly-touted prospect to its No. 3-ranked recruiting class.
He has single-game career highs of 38 points (vs. Loyola Maryland), 12 rebounds (vs. Bucknell), 11 assists (vs. Loyola Maryland), and five steals (vs. Loyola Maryland).
Cox attended Loyola High School in Los Angeles before finishing his high school career at South Kent School in Kent, Connecticut. At South Kent, he was an All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention selection and led the team to the 2023 NEPSAC AAA Championship game. Before that, he was an All-Mission League First Team Selection at Loyola High School.
Cox is one of four transfers on the roster for the 2026-27 season, joining Eric Reibe, Joshua Hughes and Aaron Hunkin-Claytor. He will also join returners Rodney Rice, Jacob Cofie and Alijah Arenas, and freshmen Adonis Ratliff, Darius Ratliff and Christian Collins.
"We are excited to welcome Jalen to our Trojan Family," Musselman said. "Jalen provides us with an incredible spark at the guard position. Jalen does an incredible job both as a scorer and as a distributor, leaving his mark on the offensive end. Jalen fits how we want to play on offense, being a high free-throw attempt player. Jalen will add to our aggressive defensive style with his ability to guard multiple positions and force turnovers with his ability to steal the basketball."
A 6-foot-3 guard from Los Angeles, Cox returns home after spending three years at Colgate, where he was a two-time All-Patriot League and Patriot League All-Defensive Team selection. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged a career-high 17.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, the latter of which led the Patriot League. He shot a career-best 52.1% from the field and 36.5% from three, an improvement over his 29.4% clip from the year prior. On3 rated him a four-star transfer portal prospect earlier this spring, which gives USC another highly-touted prospect to its No. 3-ranked recruiting class.
He has single-game career highs of 38 points (vs. Loyola Maryland), 12 rebounds (vs. Bucknell), 11 assists (vs. Loyola Maryland), and five steals (vs. Loyola Maryland).
Cox attended Loyola High School in Los Angeles before finishing his high school career at South Kent School in Kent, Connecticut. At South Kent, he was an All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention selection and led the team to the 2023 NEPSAC AAA Championship game. Before that, he was an All-Mission League First Team Selection at Loyola High School.
Cox is one of four transfers on the roster for the 2026-27 season, joining Eric Reibe, Joshua Hughes and Aaron Hunkin-Claytor. He will also join returners Rodney Rice, Jacob Cofie and Alijah Arenas, and freshmen Adonis Ratliff, Darius Ratliff and Christian Collins.
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