USC Basketball: Former All-Pac-12 Trojan Carries Summer League Squad To Championship Appearance

Could this be the year he becomes a roster fixture in the pros?

Former USC power forward Isaiah Mobley, son of current Trojans assistant coach Eric and brother to No. 3 overall 2021 lottery pick Evan, is currently starring for the Cleveland Cavaliers' Summer League team during his second Las Vegas stint.

In 33:09 of game action, the 23-year-old notched 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the floor (1-of-3 from deep), pulled down seven boards, and dished out five dimes to help propel the Summer Cavs to a 102-99 overtime victory over the Brooklyn Nets' Summer League franchise in a semifinal contest on Sunday, setting up a Monday evening finals matchup against the Houston Rockets for the offseason title.

The 6'10" big man was not as highly-regarded a prospect as his younger brother, and was selected with the No. 49 pick in the 2022 draft after three seasons with the Trojans. He inked a two-way deal during his first year in Cleveland, and thus split his time between the Cavs' NBAGL affiliate, the Cleveland Charge, and their main roster. He also signed a two-way contract to return to Cleveland in 2023-24, where he will strive to prove that he belongs in an NBA role alongside Evan.

The elder Mobley was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team in 2022, during his junior season for USC. He averaged 14.2 points on .445/.352/.682 shooting splits, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.8 steals a night that season across 32 games (all starts).

Across his 23 games with the Charge in 2022-23, Mobley averaged an impressive 20.1 points on a .522/.353/.730 slash line, 8.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 0.8 steals. He was named to the NBA G League Next Up Game and the All-NBA G League Third Team for his efforts at that level. He barely played with the Cavaliers as a rookie, suiting up for just 12 games and averaging 2.6 points and 1.7 rebounds per.