USC men’s basketball is stepping into new territory this Thursday.
The Trojans will hold their first-ever pro day on Oct. 1 at 9:30 a.m. at the USC practice facility, giving NBA evaluators a close look at the roster through the kinds of drills and exercises teams use during the pre-draft process. It’s the first event of its kind under head coach Eric Musselman, and scouts from more than half of the league’s 30 teams are expected to be in attendance.
Musselman said the event is designed to put USC players directly in front of NBA decision-makers.
"Pro day is a great vehicle to give visibility to USC players and allow them an opportunity to showcase their game in front of each NBA organization," Musselman said. "Pro day is something we've done at my previous schools. It's a great way to open our doors to NBA teams and allow them access."
He also explained that the Trojans shaped the workout with input from league personnel.
"We meet and talk with as many representatives from NBA teams as we can and find out what they would like to see in this setting," Musselman added. "We then tailor-make our practice to fill as many requests as we can from NBA organizations."
USC’s track record with the NBA already gives the event some weight. The program has produced 65 draft picks historically, and two players under Musselman - Saint Thomas and Ezra Ausar - landed NBA contracts this offseason with the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat, respectively, both on Exhibit 10 deals.
This year’s roster has also drawn early attention. Returners Alijah Arenas and Jacob Cofie have been part of that buzz, with Cofie coming off participation in the NBA and G League combines last spring. The Trojans also bring in McDonald’s All-Americans Christian Collins Adonis and Darius Ratliff.
After the workout, Musselman and select players are scheduled to speak briefly with the media.
The timing fits a program that’s trying to climb after last season’s 18-14 finish. USC heads into 2026-27 with three returners, seven transfers and the No. 5 recruiting class in ESPN’s rankings, which stands as the school’s second-best class since ESPN began tracking the data in 2007.
The Trojans have also shown up in multiple preseason top-25 projections, including ESPN at No. 11, Fox Sports at No.
13, CBS/Fanduel’s Jon Rothstein at No. 13 and Andy Katz at No. 17.
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