USC's Rodney Rice Out for Season With Shoulder Injury - Trojans Face Key Test of Depth
The USC Trojans men’s basketball team took a tough hit this week. Guard Rodney Rice, one of the program’s most exciting additions this season, has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign due to a shoulder injury that will require surgery. The announcement came Wednesday, confirming what had been feared since Rice went down during the Maui Invitational last month.
At first, there was cautious optimism that the injury wasn’t season-ending. But as the days turned into weeks with no return to the court, the writing was on the wall. Now it’s official: Rice’s season is over before it ever really had a chance to take off.
And that’s a real blow for USC.
Rice came to the Trojans as a high-profile transfer from Maryland, and he wasted no time showing why there was so much buzz around his arrival. In just six games wearing Cardinal and Gold, he averaged 20.3 points and 6.0 assists per game - numbers that speak for themselves. He wasn’t just putting up stats; he was asserting himself as a focal point of USC’s offense, providing scoring punch, playmaking, and veteran poise.
His absence now leaves a significant void in the Trojans’ backcourt - not just in production, but in leadership and on-court presence. For a team with postseason aspirations, this is the kind of moment that tests roster depth, coaching flexibility, and locker room resolve.
The silver lining? Help could be on the way soon.
Five-star freshman Alijah Arenas is expected to begin practicing this week, and if all goes well, he could make his debut in January. That’s a big development.
Arenas brings a dynamic skillset and high-level pedigree - the kind of talent that can shift the trajectory of a season. But expecting him to immediately replace what Rice brought to the table is a tall ask.
He’ll need time to get up to speed and find his rhythm at the college level.
In the meantime, USC will lean even more heavily on Chad Baker-Mazara and Jacob Cofie, both of whom have been stepping up in recent weeks. Baker-Mazara brings scoring versatility and experience, while Cofie has shown flashes of being a reliable two-way contributor. Their ability to shoulder a bigger load will be critical as the Trojans navigate a tough conference slate without one of their top weapons.
This isn’t how USC drew it up, but college basketball seasons are often defined by how teams respond to adversity. With Rice sidelined, the Trojans now face that challenge head-on. The pieces are still there - now it’s about how they fit together in a new reality.