Bronny James finally made his college plans official Saturday, when he announced his commitment to USC. James’s recruitment was played incredibly close to the vest, with college coaches very limited in their access to him and his family circle. And while he took a visit to Ohio State in the fall, his eventual choice was the Trojans, where he’ll get to play in Los Angeles for a big-name program. But how does he fit in with the current Trojans roster? And what is USC’s potential with Bronny in tow?
USC already had one of the best backcourt duos in the country on paper in fifth-year senior Boogie Ellis (17.7 PPG in 2022–23) and five-star freshman Isaiah Collier. Collier is the No. 1 player in the 247Sports composite rankings for the 2023 class and widely regarded by college coaches as the most college-ready guard in the class. It’s hard to envision James supplanting either in the starting lineup.
Still, there are minutes available for Bronny, especially if coach Andy Enfield plays more three-guard looks in the backcourt. USC lost Reese Dixon–Waters to the transfer portal this spring, who played 25 minutes per game off the bench and averaged nearly 10 points. James’s ability to play on or off the ball should serve him well in college, capable of backing up both Ellis and Collier and even playing next to that talented duo in smaller lineups.
