USC Basketball: Shaqquan Aaron withdraws from NBA Draft, remains a Trojan

With the return of Shaqquan Aaron, the USC Trojans will return their top eight scorers, becoming one of the few top teams without any early departures.

After USC lost to Baylor in the Round of 32, there were rumors that Chimezie Metu or Bennie Boatwright would jump to the NBA Draft. These rumors were silenced, however, when Metu decided not to declare and Boatwright withdrew a month before the deadline.

These moves left guard Shaqquan Aaron as the lone player with a decision to make on Wednesday. As most people predicted, Aaron made the decision to return to USC for his junior season. This decision will benefit both Aaron and the Trojans, who will only lose forward Charles Buggs.

In the 2017-2018 season, Aaron averaged 7.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in just 20.8 minutes per game. He also had a huge 23-point game in USC’s win over UCLA. He struggled to earn minutes down the stretch, which may have contributed to his initial decision to declare for the draft.

If Aaron plans on entering the draft in 2018, he will have to improve his shooting efficiency. At 6’7”, Aaron as the ability to shoot over defenders, but he developed a tendency to consistently take contested jumpers. Last season, Aaron averaged .392 from the field and .336 from three-point range. These numbers, while not the worst on the team, made him an offensive liability at times.

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Aaron’s length could provide the Trojans with a great perimeter defender, which should earn him minutes in a loaded backcourt. If head coach Andy Enfield gets Aaron to play within the offensive scheme, he could push USC into the top 10.