University Southern California Trojans
Photo by: John McGillen
USC Men’s Basketball Fares Well in Preseason Rankings
September 28, 2026 | Men's Basketball
The Trojans have made the top-25 in numerous preseason rankings.
LOS ANGELES — Saying expectations are high for the USC Men's Basketball team would be an understatement.
With the start of the regular season slightly over one month away, this year's Trojan squad has generated the most positive buzz out of any team under third-year Head Coach Eric Musselman. The USC staff brought back three key returners in Alijah Arenas, Jacob Cofie and Rodney Rice to go with some of the nation's best high school and portal recruiting classes in the nation.
This year, USC aims to improve upon last year's 18-14 record with three returners, seven transfers and the No. 5 recruiting class in ESPN's rankings, which is USC's second-best recruiting class since ESPN started tracking that data in 2007.
So far, USC has fared well in most reputable preseason polls with 11 top-25 appearances, three of which are in the top-15.
Here is a rundown of USC's showings in notable preseason rankings thus far:
ESPN (No. 11)
"On paper, the Trojans have one of the most talented teams in the country, with five former McDonald's All-Americans and three more proven high-major starters." — Jeff Borzello
Fox Sports (No. 13)
"Guard Rodney Rice is returning from injury, while Alijah Arenas enters his sophomore season with the benefit of a full offseason in the weight room. Jacob Cofie is back to anchor the frontcourt, and the additions of KJ Lewis from Georgetown, Eric Reibe from UConn, and three top-30 freshmen give the Trojans one of the nation's most fascinating rosters. How quickly coach Eric Musselman can mold that talent into a contender will be one of the sport's biggest storylines." — Casey Jacobsen
Jon Rothstein, Fanduel (No. 15)
Basket Under Review (No. 16)
"The Rice/Lewis/Cofie trio gives Muss a trio of veteran two-way players, and Arenas, Reibe and Collins add upside to the mix. The bench has bites at the apple from both the portal and the freshman class. This group has the positional size to play the best style of Muss Bus basketball, creating edges athletically and targeting mismatches on the offensive end. It's up to the staff (and the injury gods) to fuse it all together into a winner, but the upside is high." — Matt Cox, Ky McKeon and Jim Root
HoopsHQ (No. 16)
"Eric Musselman's third team at USC should be his best… If Rice returns to form after missing most of last season due to a knee injury and the Trojans stay healthy otherwise, they can contend for a Big Ten title." — Seth Davis
Andy Katz, NCAA (No. 17)
Lindy's Sports (No. 18)
"The third year under Musselman marks a pivotal juncture, but this roster is loaded with experience and talent. Barring a repeat of last season's litany of injuries, his team should break through the Big Ten's middle and carry Final Four upside into the NCAA Tournament." — Kyle Kensing
Gary Parrish, CBS Sports (No. 21)
"This ranking is based on the Trojans returning three of the top five scorers — specifically Rodney Rice, Alijah Arenas and Jacob Cofie. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospect Christian Collins, four-star prospects Adonis Ratliff and Darius Ratliff, Georgetown transfer KJ Lewis, UConn transfer Eric Reibe, Colgate transfer Jalen Cox, Lindenwood transfer Jadis Jones and South Dakota transfer Isaac Bruns." — Gary Parrish
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook (No. 22)
"Virginia transfer Jacob Cofie grew into a consistent double-double threat, then decided to return to USC despite playing so well in the G League Combine that he was called up to the NBA Combine. Also, Arenas and Rice decided to return. Then Musselman brought in a Top 10 recruiting class, led by five-star forward Christian Collins, and a top five transfer portal class… With good health and good chemistry, maybe November success can carry into February and March for the Trojans this time." — Bruce Pascoe
On3 (No. 23)
"Through and through, this is an Eric Musselman team. A quick scan of this roster, and we see an abundance of talent, with depth across the board. I am intrigued by a Rodney Rice, KJ Lewis, and Alijah Arenas backcourt… I also think Jacob Cofie is in line for a breakout-type season on the block." — Jamie Shaw
The Field of 68 (No. 25)
With the start of the regular season slightly over one month away, this year's Trojan squad has generated the most positive buzz out of any team under third-year Head Coach Eric Musselman. The USC staff brought back three key returners in Alijah Arenas, Jacob Cofie and Rodney Rice to go with some of the nation's best high school and portal recruiting classes in the nation.
This year, USC aims to improve upon last year's 18-14 record with three returners, seven transfers and the No. 5 recruiting class in ESPN's rankings, which is USC's second-best recruiting class since ESPN started tracking that data in 2007.
So far, USC has fared well in most reputable preseason polls with 11 top-25 appearances, three of which are in the top-15.
Here is a rundown of USC's showings in notable preseason rankings thus far:
ESPN (No. 11)
"On paper, the Trojans have one of the most talented teams in the country, with five former McDonald's All-Americans and three more proven high-major starters." — Jeff Borzello
Fox Sports (No. 13)
"Guard Rodney Rice is returning from injury, while Alijah Arenas enters his sophomore season with the benefit of a full offseason in the weight room. Jacob Cofie is back to anchor the frontcourt, and the additions of KJ Lewis from Georgetown, Eric Reibe from UConn, and three top-30 freshmen give the Trojans one of the nation's most fascinating rosters. How quickly coach Eric Musselman can mold that talent into a contender will be one of the sport's biggest storylines." — Casey Jacobsen
Jon Rothstein, Fanduel (No. 15)
Basket Under Review (No. 16)
"The Rice/Lewis/Cofie trio gives Muss a trio of veteran two-way players, and Arenas, Reibe and Collins add upside to the mix. The bench has bites at the apple from both the portal and the freshman class. This group has the positional size to play the best style of Muss Bus basketball, creating edges athletically and targeting mismatches on the offensive end. It's up to the staff (and the injury gods) to fuse it all together into a winner, but the upside is high." — Matt Cox, Ky McKeon and Jim Root
HoopsHQ (No. 16)
"Eric Musselman's third team at USC should be his best… If Rice returns to form after missing most of last season due to a knee injury and the Trojans stay healthy otherwise, they can contend for a Big Ten title." — Seth Davis
Andy Katz, NCAA (No. 17)
Lindy's Sports (No. 18)
"The third year under Musselman marks a pivotal juncture, but this roster is loaded with experience and talent. Barring a repeat of last season's litany of injuries, his team should break through the Big Ten's middle and carry Final Four upside into the NCAA Tournament." — Kyle Kensing
Gary Parrish, CBS Sports (No. 21)
"This ranking is based on the Trojans returning three of the top five scorers — specifically Rodney Rice, Alijah Arenas and Jacob Cofie. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospect Christian Collins, four-star prospects Adonis Ratliff and Darius Ratliff, Georgetown transfer KJ Lewis, UConn transfer Eric Reibe, Colgate transfer Jalen Cox, Lindenwood transfer Jadis Jones and South Dakota transfer Isaac Bruns." — Gary Parrish
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook (No. 22)
"Virginia transfer Jacob Cofie grew into a consistent double-double threat, then decided to return to USC despite playing so well in the G League Combine that he was called up to the NBA Combine. Also, Arenas and Rice decided to return. Then Musselman brought in a Top 10 recruiting class, led by five-star forward Christian Collins, and a top five transfer portal class… With good health and good chemistry, maybe November success can carry into February and March for the Trojans this time." — Bruce Pascoe
On3 (No. 23)
"Through and through, this is an Eric Musselman team. A quick scan of this roster, and we see an abundance of talent, with depth across the board. I am intrigued by a Rodney Rice, KJ Lewis, and Alijah Arenas backcourt… I also think Jacob Cofie is in line for a breakout-type season on the block." — Jamie Shaw
The Field of 68 (No. 25)
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