NCAA Basketball: Analyzing the 4 teams in 2020 Phil Knight Invitational

By Andy Patton | Jun 17, 2020

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 18: Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs battles for control of a loose ball against Zac Seljass #2 of the BYU Cougars in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center on January 18, 2020 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 07: USC Trojans players huddle (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Phil Knight Invitational participant – USC Trojans

The USC Trojans are returning just four players who were on scholarship last year to the squad in 2020-2021. On paper that may look like a disaster waiting to happen, especially after losing Jonah Matthews, Nick Rakocevic, Onyeka Okongwu, Daniel Utomi, Ethan Anderson and Elijah Weaver – six of the team’s seven leading scorers from last year.

However, there is plenty to be excited about for the Trojans going forward. For starters, the team is bringing in the No. 2 recruit in the entire country, Evan Mobley, a six-foot-eleven big man whose agility, ball-handling, and outside shooting should make him among the most difficult players in the NCAA to guard.

Coach Andy Enfield not only has himself a gem coming in as a freshman, but he’s worked tirelessly to canvas the transfer market to keep this team competitive, and he’s come away with three graduate transfers who should all contribute right away: guard Tahj Eaddy (Santa Clara) forward Chevez Godwin (Wofford) and combo guard Isaiah White (Utah Valley).

Behind Mobley and his older brother, Isaiah Mobley, the Trojans have a talented enough roster to stay competitive in the dwindling PAC-12 and should do enough to earn a decent seed in the NCAA tournament, where they could make some noise.

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