Pac-12 Basketball: Breaking down the 2017-18 star on each team in the conference
By Connor Hope
USC Trojans – Bennie Boatwright
Honestly, there are a few players that could have been named as USC’s star heading into the upcoming season. Forward Chimezie Metu exploded last season for the Trojans and sophomore transfer Derryck Thornton may have the most upside.
Despite the talent of these two players, forward Bennie Boatwright remains the top man for USC. Last season, Boatwright was the Trojans top scorer, averaging 15.1 points per game, and was a pretty solid competitor on the boards.
Last season, health was an issue for Boatwright, as he missed 17 games due to injury. When he was healthy, though, USC was an incredibly tough team to beat. He led the Trojans to two hard-fought wins in the NCAA Tournament before they eventually lost to Baylor in the Round of 32.
This season, the expectations are higher for head coach Andy Enfield’s team, and it all starts with the return of Boatwright. With Boatwright and Metu both deciding to forgo the NBA draft, USC has one of the best returning frontcourts in the country.
The key for Boatwright this year is to continue to stretch the floor and improve his 3-point shot. Over half his shots came from deep last year, providing space in the paint for Metu to dominate.
If Boatwright can remain healthy and consistently performs to his ability, USC should be a top-10 caliber team for most of the season.