USC Basketball: 5 reasons Trojans will win the 2018 NCAA Tournament
By Stuart Gill
The 2017 Class is perfectly suited to address the needs of last year’s team.
For an in-depth look at each of the Trojans’ three recruits, take a look at the recruiting recap I recently put together. The main thing that this freshman class brings to USC is size.
Three-star Center Victor Uyaelunmo is underrated at his position. He brings much-needed athleticism to the five, and, at 7’0, will take over much of the rebounding responsibilities. His presence will allow Boatwright and Metu to play more freely on offense, and he is also a valuable pick-and-roll option.
The two guards, O’Bannon and Usher, are each 6’5 and will be able to shine in the future after learning from the older guards on USC’s roster, such as Stewart, McLaughlin, Aaron, and De’Anthony Melton.
They are not the kind of recruits that you build your entire team around, and that is a good thing. Last year’s Trojans played extremely well, so it makes more sense to add in supporting pieces rather than re-structure the team entirely. With Uyaelunmo adding size and O’Bannon and Usher becoming extra backcourt weapons, USC is better suited to succeed in the NCAA Tournament than they were a year ago.