USC Men's Basketball: Do Trojans Have NCAA's Top Backcourt?
It's no secret that your Trojans have quite a roster entering the 2023-2024 men's college basketball season. Headlined by 5-star, top-ranked recruit Isaiah Collier joining the fray, All-Pac-12 returner Boogie Ellis, and key contributors like Kobe Johnson returning for another campaign, this might be USC's best team in the Enfield era.
At media day, Boogie Ellis had this to say:
And frankly, he definitely has an argument to make here. Bringing a top-ranked recruit to a backcourt that was already among the nation's best might tip USC over the edge.
To that end, however, the NCAA landscape is highly competitive, and it's key to point to who could challenge the Trojans' background this season. Here are my top four non-USC backcourt tandems:
1. Stephon Castle and Tristen Newton, University of Connecticut
Castle and Newton are a new formation, with Castle being a 5-star recruit and Newton having been the starting point guard on UConn's national championship group last season. The two bring tremendous size (6'6 and 6'5, respectively), and elite two-way play on a roster that might be the best in the nation.
2. Dajuan Harris Jr. and Kevin McCullar Jr., University of Kansas
Harris and McCullar might be the best defensive backcourt in the country, with Harris having been a former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. The two bring a combo of speed, size, and physicality that is unmatched, and they'll be battle-tested in the Big 12.
3. Tyrese Proctor and Jeremy Roach, Duke
Jon Scheyer's backcourt is a threat to feature two first-round picks in next year's NBA draft, led by arguably the best perimeter defender in the nation this season in Proctor. Roach has experience, having played since the 2020 campaign, and the two will be surrounded by a terrific supporting cast in a tough ACC.
4. Tyson Walker and A.J. Hoggard, Michigan State
As driving forces in one of last year's slightly surprising March Madness runs, Walker and Hoggard are elite scorers at the guard position, leading Tom Izzo's squad around the Big Ten. The two play off of each other extremely well, and have been teammates for years.
The competition across the NCAA is steep, to say the least. But, even amongst the duos listed above, USC can compete talent-wise. The only question is whether they can piece it together regarding chemistry, coaching, and big-game performance. If they can, the Trojans might be a legitimate national championship threat instead of an early exit as they've been in years past.
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