Busting Brackets
Fansided

USC Basketball: Evaluating Trojans 2020 recruiting class

By Trevor Sinodhinos

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 07: USC Trojans players huddle on the court during the game against the UCLA Bruins at Galen Center on March 7, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 07: USC Trojans players huddle on the court during the game against the UCLA Bruins at Galen Center on March 7, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 21: Onyeka Okongwu #21 and Daniel Utomi #4 of the USC Trojans (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 21: Onyeka Okongwu #21 and Daniel Utomi #4 of the USC Trojans (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

USC Basketball 2020 recruit – Boubacar Coulibaly: 6’10 / 210

USC Basketball is in need of an entirely new frontcourt. Nick Rakocevic (10.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg), and Daniel Utomi (8.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg) will graduate as Onyeka Okongwu (16.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg), pictured above with Utomi, will be drafted after his freshman season. These departures, in turn, will make Boubacar Coulibaly an important piece, but will not equate into the captain of San Gabriel Academy starting for the Trojans in 2020-21.

In his senior high school season, the three-star center averaged 25 points and 14 rebounds per game. Coulibaly will not come close to replicating those stats in the PAC-12, as he will become a reliable member of the bench that Coach Enfield can trust in a similar offense as the Trojans ran in 2019-20.

At 6’11 / 225, Rakocevic would initiate the offense by setting a high screen for Ethan Anderson or Utomi. Rakocevic was also a good enough finisher that the defensive help could not leave him in the paint to help on Okongwu. Finishing in the paint is one aspect of the game Coulibaly can execute, as he would put down his head, take a couple of power dribbles and dunk on a high school kid.

His worth will be demonstrated on the defensive end as he will rebound and protect the rim.  Breakout candidate Max Angbonkpolo, graduate transfer Chevez Goodwin and the Trojans’ other recruit should make up the starting front-court as Coulibaly comes off the bench for 15-20 minutes to average 5 points, 7 rebounds, and two blocks.

Home/USC Trojans