Busting Brackets
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PAC-12 Basketball: 2020-21 breakout candidates from each team

By Trevor Sinodhinos

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 15: A Pac-12 basketball logo is displayed on the court before a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Washington Huskies at T-Mobile Arena on March 15, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 15: A Pac-12 basketball logo is displayed on the court before a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Washington Huskies at T-Mobile Arena on March 15, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 19: Nick Rakocevic #31 and Max Agbonkpolo #23 of the USC Trojans (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 19: Nick Rakocevic #31 and Max Agbonkpolo #23 of the USC Trojans (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images) /

USC Trojans: Max Agbonkpolo

USC Basketball finished third in the PAC-12 with an 11-7 record, a vast improvement over the eighth place finish the prior season.  In a similar fashion that the third-place finish was a surprise, what will happen in 2020-21 will be even greater. Primarily due to the fact of uncertainty, three starters are graduating and freshman Onyeka Okongwu is preparing to be a top ten NBA Draft selection.

While the loss of their three top scorers is a negative, Coach Andy Enfield will have three Graduate Transfers at the point guard, shooting guard and power forward positions that all average double digits and can start. In addition, five-star center Evan Mobley has committed to the Trojans and will be put into the starting line-up immediately.

Through all this uncertainty and potentially four new players in the starting line-up, versatility is going to be a major factor in getting playing time. Nobody on the Trojans has the versatility and the potential of Max Agbonkpolo.

The 6’8 forward was ranked 54 in the class of 2019 and only managed to average seven minutes on the floor per game, and that translated into producing an average of just over two points. The 2020-21 season will not be an easier season to get playing minutes, but Coach Enfield needs to be aware of developing his sophomores because he will only have his Grad Transfers and Mobley for one season.

Agbonkpolo did play some minutes at shooting guard while his light frame and ball-handling skills make him a difficult guard at forward. The Trojans will also see 2020-21 sophomore’s Ethan Anderson and Isaiah Mobley develop as well, but if Coach Enfield wants Agbonkpolo to keep pace with them, he will have to put him in a situation to breakout.

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