USC Basketball: Trojans Starter Applauds Bronny James' Resilience After Career Night

Bronny may be USC's secret weapon.

A cardiac arrest back in July looked like potentially the beginning of the end of Bronny James' career. 

The 4-star, 6-foot-4 combo guard out of Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth, was touted as a potential difference-maker for the Trojans both on and off the court. 

As a terrific shooter with superb athleticism and a great feel for the game on both sides of the ball, James is a unique player who since making his debut for the Trojans, has made an impact. 

This was especially the case in their most recent game against the Oregon State Beavers, where Bronny was arguably the only Trojan to show up, putting up 15 points in just 20 minutes. 

Star guard Boogie Ellis had great things to say about him after the game (per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN): 

"Bronny's a great player," said USC senior guard

Boogie Ellis

, who led USC in scoring with 20 points. "I know he's going to make plays, make things happen. He brings a lot of energy for us, and he's been great on defense.

"To see what he's been through and to come back and play like this, it shows how great he is. I'm just glad that he's playing well and everybody else got to continue to play well with him."

Ellis credits Bronny's resiliency coming off of his cardiac arrest, and further praises his energy and defense – both of which USC has desperately needed. With next to no bench production earlier in the season, combined with having the 265th-ranked defense in the nation, James' contributions in those areas cannot be understated. 

If the 6-7 Trojans do end up turning it around, I personally believe it'll come alongside a massive increase in minutes for James, as he uniquely fills the two biggest holes with this team: shooting and defense, while also adding energy off the bench. 

He carries the potential to be an explosive spark plug-esque player for this group, who can come in off the bench and make a massive impact within minutes. Let's see if Bronny can help coach Andy Enfield save his job.