USC Basketball: Expert Assesses Fit Of Starry Freshman Backcourt Duo

Two 2024 draft hopefuls are hoping to rock Galen Center in the cardinal and gold this season.

Your USC Trojans boast one of the top freshman classes in the entire NCAA this year, thanks to the arrival of aspiring NBA guards Isaiah Collier (a potential top-five pick next year) and LeBrony "Bronny" James Jr. (a possible mid-first rounder should he declare for the draft in 2024).

In a new conversation with Vincent Goodwill about the new-look Trojans, Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports unpacked the fit of the club's fresh backcourt.

"But in terms of how they're going to coexist, Isaiah Collier, he's one of the best guards coming out of the high school class," Peek noted. "Just a bully guard who is just already just-- his instincts getting downhill, his passing is elite. He's got a solid mid-range game. I haven't really seen-- because he's so quick, he hasn't really had to have that 3-point game, but it's improving."

"And I think the thing with [long-tenured USC head coach] Andy Enfield and his coaching staff, they really wanted to be able to see how the two of them [James and Collier] could coexist in the backcourt. So that's why we saw Isaiah Collier, a sort of East Coast kid from Atlanta, on the West team for the McDonald's All-American. I think that was very intentional," Peek said. "So they were great as teammates during that week and then, a week later at Hoop Summit, again were fine, building that on-court chemistry.

"Both of them, from everything that I could get from talking to both players, they were happy playing alongside one another," Peek continued. "And I think, obviously, there's going to be some growing pains any time you bring in new players. But I think there's a lot to like about the duo."

So is she right? Can James and Collie transform what could be their one-and-done collegiate season into playoff glory? Time will tell.