University Southern California Trojans
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: John McGillen
Q&A with KJ Lewis
July 09, 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, senior guard KJ Lewis sat down to talk about his college basketball journey, his connections to USC and Head Coach Eric Musselman and his goals for the upcoming season.
How has your time at USC been so far?
It's been exciting. It's funny because I have family ties to USC. My uncle Rob worked in the athletic department here for like 40 years with football and everything, so it's just crazy how it's been a full-circle moment.
When I was little, my dad used to always tell me that Uncle Rob wanted me to come to the football games because he always had tickets for us. I lived with my mom in Texas, so I was never able to come out because of basketball. But he was super excited that he found out I was coming.
How did your recruiting process go and what were you looking for in your last stop in college?
I had a season-ending injury last year going into the portal. I was trying to find a school that still believed in me, regardless of the injury, and still had that same ambition as me. I wanted to go somewhere that wanted to help me reach my potential.
I think Coach Musselman has been very straight, to the point and direct when he's recruited me, which I appreciate about him. He's also been recruiting me since high school. To be somewhere where you're wanted by a coach who's been trying to pursue you for a long time to get the best out of you is something that stood out from the other schools.
What was Coach Musselman's pitch to you to come here and what are some of the goals that he wants to set out for you this season?
The common goal was we wanted to get back to a tournament — not just make the tournament but make a real push to the second weekend or even into April. I think that was something we all had in common.
I see similarities with who he's coached before. I think he's been straightforward about my game. I think the best version of myself is when a coach like him can push me past my limits and show me that I can do more. That's something that he's been consistent with, even when he was recruiting me in high school.
Which players is he comparing you to?
He was comparing me to Moses Moody and Caleb and Cody Martin — two-way guys that are all about the team and all about winning, but can do a lot on the floor.
That's something I'm trying to model my game after for this team because we got a lot of talented players. Being an older guy, I've been on talented teams. If we can get it together early and figure out roles, then buy in consistently as a group, I think we have a really good chance to succeed.
Last year was the best offensive season of your career. What do you attribute that success to?
Probably 85-90% of basketball is mental. Getting away from Arizona, I tried to get my confidence back and find that love for the game again. Even though we had a terrible year with losing, that was something I wasn't used to. But personally for myself as a player, I think it was really huge. I proved to myself that I could be one of the best scorers in the nation or one of the best players in the nation while still having that same reputation of somebody who's going to guard the other team's best player and be active on defense.
I was trying to find a balance and tie it all together to help the team win. Scoring is cool — everybody loves to get their numbers. But I started my career on a team with a couple of All-Americans and NBA players. You have to find ways to still impact the game without trying to score 15 points per game. But I enjoyed doing what I had to do last year for my old team.
For fans who haven't watched you, how would you describe your style of play?
My style of play is gritty and exciting. I pride myself on defense. I know that's probably the best part about my game. I say excited because I get a lot of steals and I get out in transition a lot. I'm athletic, but I also try to play the game the right way and be a stat stuffer. I'm somebody who's going to go out there and probably get 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, and a few steals. I'm ready to do it all. Whatever it takes to make the team win, I'm happy to do it.
Where does that defensive mindset and tenacity come from?
It definitely started at a younger age. I would credit it to my mom and my older sister being tough. I'm from a small town in Texas, so I'd just play outside on the blacktop with my homies. Having that pride of trying not to get scored on builds over time.
Then when you get older, you have to find ways to stand out. I felt like God blessed me with a bunch of abilities to move quick laterally, have long arms and good reflexes, which are things I feel you've got to have. I think it's just a dog mentality that you've got to carry with you. I know that's going to be a way for me to achieve my dream of playing in the NBA.
Which players did you look up to growing up?
Kevin Durant was my favorite player for real. But as I got older, I started understanding the game a little bit more. I found some of my game in Marcus Smart when he was with the Celtics, Jrue Holiday — even young Jimmy Butler from the Bulls — guys who are gritty, set the tone and who play with a lot of energy on both sides of the ball.
What's it been like seeing the team come together in the summer with all the newcomers?
It's been good. I think everybody is very outgoing and easy to talk to. I think the coaching staff did a really good job of bringing people in with good personalities, people who want to learn from each other as players and brothers, but also players who want to learn from the coaches. I think it's good to have that energy — especially when you have a bad taste in your mouth from last year.
I think the coaching staff has done a great job of keeping us in unison when it comes to how much time we spend together off the court, giving us extra activities. Even on the court, we have a bunch of energy and we push each other. I think that chemistry is going to grow as the year goes on, and then once the season starts, I think the fans will see a connected group.
What have you learned about the program from the three returners and what goals have they set for this year?
They've been very vocal. They've been outgoing and very easy to talk to. When you have people like that who are returning, it's hard to fall behind. They're just good guys, they're funny, they all want to win. They're all competitive.I think those are the best traits that they have in common. They all know what the potential of this team can be. They've seen what it was last year and I don't think they're gonna let it drop below their standard or the coaches' standards.
What are some of your personal goals for the season?
I want to get the best out of myself. Everybody has their individual goals, but I think for me, my goal is to just get back healthy, be the best version of myself and just try to grow in all aspects of my game. I think if I do that, it'll unlock more individual goals I have for myself.
Something I'm going to focus on is mentally being confident, physically getting back healthy, and just staying in the gym. Anything else can be achieved once I do that.
One of the incoming transfers, senior guard KJ Lewis sat down to talk about his college basketball journey, his connections to USC and Head Coach Eric Musselman and his goals for the upcoming season.
How has your time at USC been so far?
It's been exciting. It's funny because I have family ties to USC. My uncle Rob worked in the athletic department here for like 40 years with football and everything, so it's just crazy how it's been a full-circle moment.
When I was little, my dad used to always tell me that Uncle Rob wanted me to come to the football games because he always had tickets for us. I lived with my mom in Texas, so I was never able to come out because of basketball. But he was super excited that he found out I was coming.
How did your recruiting process go and what were you looking for in your last stop in college?
I had a season-ending injury last year going into the portal. I was trying to find a school that still believed in me, regardless of the injury, and still had that same ambition as me. I wanted to go somewhere that wanted to help me reach my potential.
I think Coach Musselman has been very straight, to the point and direct when he's recruited me, which I appreciate about him. He's also been recruiting me since high school. To be somewhere where you're wanted by a coach who's been trying to pursue you for a long time to get the best out of you is something that stood out from the other schools.
What was Coach Musselman's pitch to you to come here and what are some of the goals that he wants to set out for you this season?
The common goal was we wanted to get back to a tournament — not just make the tournament but make a real push to the second weekend or even into April. I think that was something we all had in common.
I see similarities with who he's coached before. I think he's been straightforward about my game. I think the best version of myself is when a coach like him can push me past my limits and show me that I can do more. That's something that he's been consistent with, even when he was recruiting me in high school.
Which players is he comparing you to?
He was comparing me to Moses Moody and Caleb and Cody Martin — two-way guys that are all about the team and all about winning, but can do a lot on the floor.
That's something I'm trying to model my game after for this team because we got a lot of talented players. Being an older guy, I've been on talented teams. If we can get it together early and figure out roles, then buy in consistently as a group, I think we have a really good chance to succeed.
Last year was the best offensive season of your career. What do you attribute that success to?
Probably 85-90% of basketball is mental. Getting away from Arizona, I tried to get my confidence back and find that love for the game again. Even though we had a terrible year with losing, that was something I wasn't used to. But personally for myself as a player, I think it was really huge. I proved to myself that I could be one of the best scorers in the nation or one of the best players in the nation while still having that same reputation of somebody who's going to guard the other team's best player and be active on defense.
I was trying to find a balance and tie it all together to help the team win. Scoring is cool — everybody loves to get their numbers. But I started my career on a team with a couple of All-Americans and NBA players. You have to find ways to still impact the game without trying to score 15 points per game. But I enjoyed doing what I had to do last year for my old team.
For fans who haven't watched you, how would you describe your style of play?
My style of play is gritty and exciting. I pride myself on defense. I know that's probably the best part about my game. I say excited because I get a lot of steals and I get out in transition a lot. I'm athletic, but I also try to play the game the right way and be a stat stuffer. I'm somebody who's going to go out there and probably get 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, and a few steals. I'm ready to do it all. Whatever it takes to make the team win, I'm happy to do it.
Where does that defensive mindset and tenacity come from?
It definitely started at a younger age. I would credit it to my mom and my older sister being tough. I'm from a small town in Texas, so I'd just play outside on the blacktop with my homies. Having that pride of trying not to get scored on builds over time.
Then when you get older, you have to find ways to stand out. I felt like God blessed me with a bunch of abilities to move quick laterally, have long arms and good reflexes, which are things I feel you've got to have. I think it's just a dog mentality that you've got to carry with you. I know that's going to be a way for me to achieve my dream of playing in the NBA.
Which players did you look up to growing up?
Kevin Durant was my favorite player for real. But as I got older, I started understanding the game a little bit more. I found some of my game in Marcus Smart when he was with the Celtics, Jrue Holiday — even young Jimmy Butler from the Bulls — guys who are gritty, set the tone and who play with a lot of energy on both sides of the ball.
What's it been like seeing the team come together in the summer with all the newcomers?
It's been good. I think everybody is very outgoing and easy to talk to. I think the coaching staff did a really good job of bringing people in with good personalities, people who want to learn from each other as players and brothers, but also players who want to learn from the coaches. I think it's good to have that energy — especially when you have a bad taste in your mouth from last year.
I think the coaching staff has done a great job of keeping us in unison when it comes to how much time we spend together off the court, giving us extra activities. Even on the court, we have a bunch of energy and we push each other. I think that chemistry is going to grow as the year goes on, and then once the season starts, I think the fans will see a connected group.
What have you learned about the program from the three returners and what goals have they set for this year?
They've been very vocal. They've been outgoing and very easy to talk to. When you have people like that who are returning, it's hard to fall behind. They're just good guys, they're funny, they all want to win. They're all competitive.I think those are the best traits that they have in common. They all know what the potential of this team can be. They've seen what it was last year and I don't think they're gonna let it drop below their standard or the coaches' standards.
What are some of your personal goals for the season?
I want to get the best out of myself. Everybody has their individual goals, but I think for me, my goal is to just get back healthy, be the best version of myself and just try to grow in all aspects of my game. I think if I do that, it'll unlock more individual goals I have for myself.
Something I'm going to focus on is mentally being confident, physically getting back healthy, and just staying in the gym. Anything else can be achieved once I do that.
Monday, June 22
Monday, June 22
Monday, June 22
Monday, June 22
