USC’s run of elite recruiting has one superstar left to go: Bronny James
It has been a remarkable college sports cycle for USC athletics in its revenue sports. The Trojans put both basketball teams in the NCAA Tournament and reached a New Year’s Six bowl in football, something done by only two other schools in this cycle: Alabama and Tennessee.
USC recruited the top-ranked prospects in men’s and women’s basketball, landing Isaiah Collier and JuJu Watkins. It retained Boogie Ellis for one more season. It just landed the top-ranked (spring) transfer portal prospect, Bear Alexander. We’re waiting to see if the Trojans can close the door and land Bronny James, who — though not the No. 1 prospect on the board — would carry value beyond recruiting rankings. Bronny choosing USC would make Trojan basketball much more of a destination program for other recruits. USC becoming “the place to be” for basketball, not just football, is exactly how Andy Enfield can build the Trojans into a Final Four-level program, a team which can expect to contend for college basketball’s biggest prizes. Let’s say more about this below:
STAR POWER IN LOS ANGELES
Mar 28, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; West players (from left) Jared McCain, Bronny James and Ron Holland II during the McDonald’s All American Boy’s high school basketball game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles is where the stars shine and like to be seen. People are drawn to stars in L.A. USC basketball has lacked the “it” factor, being the cool place to go for a hoops game. Bronny, if he picks USC, would make the Galen Center a destination for a lot of casual sports fans who previously wouldn’t have set aside time for Trojan basketball. I’m not sure a lot of people grasp how important the Bronny James recruitment is. It might not transform the 2024 roster, but it would definitely change USC’s reputation and identity in positive ways.
THE TRE WHITE ANGLE
Dec 11, 2021; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Sierra Canyon High School guard Bronny James (0) controls the ball during the first half against Perry High School at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
USC really could have used Tre White for the upcoming basketball season. His transfer decision does point to Bronny James picking USC, because there would have been a tight squeeze for minutes for White had he stayed. If, for some reason, Bronny doesn’t choose USC, the Trojans will find themselves shorthanded. This raises the stakes for the recruitment of LeBron James’ son.
BIG-TIME BACKCOURT
Bronny James is ranked No. 43 nationally, according to the 247Sports.com composite recruiting database.
Putting Bronny James alongside Isaiah Collier and Boogie Ellis in next season’s backcourt would give Andy Enfield a level of high-end backcourt depth he has never previously had in 10 years on the job at USC.
PLAYING TIME
Feb 9, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) sons Bronny and Bryce James attend a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The Tre White and Reese Dixon-Waters transfers out of the USC program have made it clear that if Bronny James is as good as his recruiting ranking says he is, he will be able to play substantial minutes (30 per game, give or take a few minutes) this upcoming season, which might have been the one real question surrounding USC’s recruitment of him in previous weeks.
ONE OR TWO YEARS?
Mar 27, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; McDonald’s All American West guard Bronny James (6) dunks the ball over his brother Bryce Maximus James during the Powerade Jam Fest at Delmar Athletic Complex. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
One big point of debate is whether Bronny James would be a one-and-done recruit or a two-year college player. You will get a lot of different opinions on this. NBA scouts aren’t going to simply elevate Bronny because of his father. Bronny will have to earn a lottery-pick or at least a first-round slot with his play. It’s not going to be handed to him. This raises the possibility that USC could have him for two seasons, not just one, if it manages to win this recruitment.
TWO-YEAR PLAN
Mar 28, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; McDonald’s All American West guard Bronny James (6) shoots the ball during the first half against the McDonald’s All American East at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
If Bronny is a two-year player, it makes perfect sense on paper. He will share time and minutes with Isaiah Collier and Boogie Ellis this coming season. Then the 2024-2025 team will be fully his. That season will involve Big Ten basketball, so Bronny would be able to play against Ohio State, one of the other teams involved in his current recruitment and the team from LeBron’s home state of Ohio.
ISAIAH COLLIER
Jan 27, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sierra Canyon Trailblazers point guard Bronny James (0) looks on during warm up for the Battle of the Valley against the Notre Dame Knights played at Pauley Pavilion. James did not play because of a knee injury. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
If we are to talk about one-and-done recruits, Collier is the almost-certain one-year player, akin to Evan Mobley. Bronny’s identity is uncertain, but Collier is very likely to play at USC for just one season. Let’s be clear about that.
FITTING IN AT USC
Mar 28, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; McDonald’s All American West guard Bronny James (6) warms up prior to the game against the McDonald’s All American East at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Can Bronny James play defense? That would be an immediate and urgent question facing USC and Andy Enfield if the Trojans successfully recruit him. LeBron James, as great as he is as an offensive player, became an elite defensive player in his prime. Bronny would need to show two-way prowess to give maximum value to USC hoops on the court.
MAGNIFIED ATTENTION
Apr 16, 2023; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts with guard Malik Beasley (5) during the second half during game one of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron carrying the Lakers through the playoffs — L.A. is currently up 2-1 on the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round — would certainly magnify the news value and positive publicity attached to a Bronny-USC partnership. Imagine how this would go down with the Lakers already being home for the playoffs. It will hit differently if USC can land Bronny.
ENFIELD IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Apr 16, 2023; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) passes the ball as Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) defends during the first half during game one of the 2023 NBA playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
We have said it before and we’ll say it again: Andy Enfield hasn’t had talent on this scale at USC. If he successfully recruits Bronny James, he will become the focus of a lot more attention in Los Angeles and across the nation. He would enter next season needing to prove that he can coach Cadillac talent. LeBron James would certainly pay much closer attention to Enfield. We can be sure of that.
