PAC-12 Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season
By Andy Patton
Trojans . 6. team. 519. . .
Perhaps the most notable player to depart the PAC-12, and almost certainly the first one to be selected in the 2020 NBA draft, is USC big man Onyeka Okongwu.
Okongwu was an absolute beast for the Trojans as a true freshman last year, averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds.
He’ll be a top 10, maybe even a top 5, pick in the draft, and while his absence will no doubt hurt the Trojans – they are extremely fortunate to be adding another monumentally impactful freshman big man to their team in Evan Mobley.
Mobley, the younger brother of USC forward Isaiah Mobley, is expected to be an instant contributor in USC’s frontcourt and is already being mocked within the top 5 of 2021 mock drafts.
While Mobley should ease the sting of losing Okongwu, USC is also losing a pair of impactful seniors in guard Jonah Mathews and forward Nick Rakocevic, as well as transfer guard Elijah Weaver. In fact, they are only returning four scholarship hoopers from last season, giving coach Andy Enfield perhaps his most challenging coaching assignment to date.
The team did reload by adding a trio of graduate transfers: Tahj Eaddy (Santa Clara) Chevez Goodwin (Wofford) and Isaiah White (Utah Valley) which should help bring experience and depth across the board.
How Mobley adjusts to the college game will be a huge talking point in the PAC-12 this season, and will have an impact on where USC finishes in the standings, although top-5 is by no means out of the question after a third-place finish last season.