University Southern California Trojans
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Photo by: John McGillen
Q&A with Jadis Jones
July 08, 2026 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES — With a talented mix of returners, transfers and blue-chip freshman recruits, the USC Men's Basketball team is looking to make the NCAA Tournament in Head Coach Eric Musselman's third year.
One of the incoming transfers, junior wing Jadis Jones, sat down to talk about his college basketball journey from Lindenwood to USC, finding his role on the team and motivation for the year.
What has your college basketball journey been like up to this point?
I came from Lindenwood, where I had a good freshman year. I had a big opportunity on that team too — one of the starters that was there before I came in ended up getting injured, so I got an opportunity to come in and get a starting position. I think I did pretty well with that. After that year, with 10 games left in the season, I broke my wrist and ended up having to have surgery with a three-to-six-month recovery. I was in the portal, but I ended up leaving the portal. I still had a lot of opportunity to leave, but I didn't know where I would fall in the depth chart on those teams — especially with having to miss a summer with my wrist injury.
I returned to Lindenwood for another year, which wasn't a bad thing. I improved within that year. All my numbers went up. My three-point shooting actually fell, but overall I had a good year. It brought me to where I am now. Being able to come to USC was a good thing.
What was the recruiting pitch to you from the USC coaches and who were you talking to during the process?
I was talking to Michael Musselman and Coach Muss too. I liked how they came off and how authentic they were — they were really showing me the opportunity that I had to come here and the position that I could be able to play. For me, it was just knowing that it's a high level of basketball. If I come in and take care of what I'm supposed to day to day with a professional mindset, then I know how much I can improve my game and help the team.
For fans that have never seen you play, how would you describe your game?
I get down in the dirt, just get down and be gritty. I don't really shoot a lot of threes on the outside, but I get to the basket. I finish around the perimeter a lot. I play bigger than my size. I'm just willing to do whatever the team needs me to do, whether it's playing defense all game, stopping the other team's best player, or coming down the stretch and making big plays when it matters the most. I'm willing to do whatever the team needs to win.
Last year, you ranked third in the country in rebounds for all players under 6-foot-6. Where does your tenacity come from to get after it on the boards?
I really think it started from high school, man. I used to have games where I had 23 rebounds. Just having a knack for knowing where the ball is gonna be really helps me a lot. I always took my rebounding seriously — it's just something that a lot of guys are not willing to do. Every possession, I'm willing to put my body on the line to get those rebounds. All that stuff matters. You can't just worry about scoring. You've got to worry about the small things. Being able to always keep that mindset of boxing down and be able to get up there with the bigger guys to get those rebounds is something that I'll continually do.
Were there moments or games throughout your career that gave you confidence to play at the high-major Power-4 level?
I played a low major, but I will say we had games where we played teams like Mizzou and other schools like that. There were a lot of games against high majors where I averaged a double-double or I got close to averaging a double-double. Last year, Indiana was one of the games we played this past year where I had a kind of tough game, but I still finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Playing those teams and being able to do what I did then showed me that I can also play at this level.
There are a couple of guys on this roster that are making the leap from a mid-major to USC this year. How have you guys been learning from and relying on each other so far?
The standard is different here than it is at our past schools. But this is how basketball should be played. We've just been listening to Coach Muss and all the other coaches in practice and paying attention to the details and the things that really matter. We've emphasized talking every possession — every player that's on the floor has something to say. I think if we can do those things every day consistently, then we'll be in a good place.
What have you learned from returners Alijah Arenas, Jacob Cofie and Rodney Rice so far about USC basketball, and what have they demonstrated to the newcomers so far?
We talk every day after practice. I think those guys definitely want a better year than what they had last year. I think they expected a big year, but with injuries and with other things happening with the team, I don't think they got the year that they wanted.
It's amazing what you can see returners learn from one year to the next. When I returned from my first year at Lindenwood, the second year, I knew everything that coach was talking about. He didn't really have to teach me a lot of things. Coach Muss brought that up in practice with Jacob: Everything that they're doing, he doesn't have to say anything to Jacob and them because they already know. Watching them and seeing what it's like to do what they're supposed to do, everybody's falling in after them and watching them set a good example. The team is going to be good as long as we can follow in their footsteps as long as those guys keep leading us.
With 10 newcomers on the team, you guys are really trying to coalesce and find your identity during the summer in such a quick time. What stands out to you about this group so far?
The will to want to win. I think right now, everybody is coming from a different situation, but I feel like we all bought into the main goal. We know we have high expectations for us, and right now it looks like a lot of us want to exceed or surpass those expectations. Nobody's trying to look for shortcuts — I'm not seeing any of that with this team on or off the court. Everybody seems motivated. Some guys have their own personal goals, but I think as a team we all have one goal, and that's to get to the NCAA Tournament.
What keeps you motivated?
Always being better than I was before I stepped on the floor, whether that's practice, a game, or in a workout. I always want to be the best version of myself. As far as my personal goals, I just want to show that I can play at this level. I've been trying to get to this level, and it's something that I was able to do by the grace of God. Having this opportunity, I want to showcase to the world what I can do for my team and how I can make a big impact for the team anytime I'm on the floor.
One of the incoming transfers, junior wing Jadis Jones, sat down to talk about his college basketball journey from Lindenwood to USC, finding his role on the team and motivation for the year.
What has your college basketball journey been like up to this point?
I came from Lindenwood, where I had a good freshman year. I had a big opportunity on that team too — one of the starters that was there before I came in ended up getting injured, so I got an opportunity to come in and get a starting position. I think I did pretty well with that. After that year, with 10 games left in the season, I broke my wrist and ended up having to have surgery with a three-to-six-month recovery. I was in the portal, but I ended up leaving the portal. I still had a lot of opportunity to leave, but I didn't know where I would fall in the depth chart on those teams — especially with having to miss a summer with my wrist injury.
I returned to Lindenwood for another year, which wasn't a bad thing. I improved within that year. All my numbers went up. My three-point shooting actually fell, but overall I had a good year. It brought me to where I am now. Being able to come to USC was a good thing.
What was the recruiting pitch to you from the USC coaches and who were you talking to during the process?
I was talking to Michael Musselman and Coach Muss too. I liked how they came off and how authentic they were — they were really showing me the opportunity that I had to come here and the position that I could be able to play. For me, it was just knowing that it's a high level of basketball. If I come in and take care of what I'm supposed to day to day with a professional mindset, then I know how much I can improve my game and help the team.
For fans that have never seen you play, how would you describe your game?
I get down in the dirt, just get down and be gritty. I don't really shoot a lot of threes on the outside, but I get to the basket. I finish around the perimeter a lot. I play bigger than my size. I'm just willing to do whatever the team needs me to do, whether it's playing defense all game, stopping the other team's best player, or coming down the stretch and making big plays when it matters the most. I'm willing to do whatever the team needs to win.
Last year, you ranked third in the country in rebounds for all players under 6-foot-6. Where does your tenacity come from to get after it on the boards?
I really think it started from high school, man. I used to have games where I had 23 rebounds. Just having a knack for knowing where the ball is gonna be really helps me a lot. I always took my rebounding seriously — it's just something that a lot of guys are not willing to do. Every possession, I'm willing to put my body on the line to get those rebounds. All that stuff matters. You can't just worry about scoring. You've got to worry about the small things. Being able to always keep that mindset of boxing down and be able to get up there with the bigger guys to get those rebounds is something that I'll continually do.
Were there moments or games throughout your career that gave you confidence to play at the high-major Power-4 level?
I played a low major, but I will say we had games where we played teams like Mizzou and other schools like that. There were a lot of games against high majors where I averaged a double-double or I got close to averaging a double-double. Last year, Indiana was one of the games we played this past year where I had a kind of tough game, but I still finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Playing those teams and being able to do what I did then showed me that I can also play at this level.
There are a couple of guys on this roster that are making the leap from a mid-major to USC this year. How have you guys been learning from and relying on each other so far?
The standard is different here than it is at our past schools. But this is how basketball should be played. We've just been listening to Coach Muss and all the other coaches in practice and paying attention to the details and the things that really matter. We've emphasized talking every possession — every player that's on the floor has something to say. I think if we can do those things every day consistently, then we'll be in a good place.
What have you learned from returners Alijah Arenas, Jacob Cofie and Rodney Rice so far about USC basketball, and what have they demonstrated to the newcomers so far?
We talk every day after practice. I think those guys definitely want a better year than what they had last year. I think they expected a big year, but with injuries and with other things happening with the team, I don't think they got the year that they wanted.
It's amazing what you can see returners learn from one year to the next. When I returned from my first year at Lindenwood, the second year, I knew everything that coach was talking about. He didn't really have to teach me a lot of things. Coach Muss brought that up in practice with Jacob: Everything that they're doing, he doesn't have to say anything to Jacob and them because they already know. Watching them and seeing what it's like to do what they're supposed to do, everybody's falling in after them and watching them set a good example. The team is going to be good as long as we can follow in their footsteps as long as those guys keep leading us.
With 10 newcomers on the team, you guys are really trying to coalesce and find your identity during the summer in such a quick time. What stands out to you about this group so far?
The will to want to win. I think right now, everybody is coming from a different situation, but I feel like we all bought into the main goal. We know we have high expectations for us, and right now it looks like a lot of us want to exceed or surpass those expectations. Nobody's trying to look for shortcuts — I'm not seeing any of that with this team on or off the court. Everybody seems motivated. Some guys have their own personal goals, but I think as a team we all have one goal, and that's to get to the NCAA Tournament.
What keeps you motivated?
Always being better than I was before I stepped on the floor, whether that's practice, a game, or in a workout. I always want to be the best version of myself. As far as my personal goals, I just want to show that I can play at this level. I've been trying to get to this level, and it's something that I was able to do by the grace of God. Having this opportunity, I want to showcase to the world what I can do for my team and how I can make a big impact for the team anytime I'm on the floor.
Monday, June 22
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Monday, June 22
