LOS ANGELES — When the NBA tipped off its 2026-27 season this week, eight former USC players were on opening-night rosters, a total that ties the Trojans for 15th among Division I schools.
The group runs from veterans to young contributors. DeMar DeRozan, a six-time All-Star, started his 18th season and his first in Denver, sitting fourth among active players in career scoring. His old college teammate Nikola Vucevic is back in Orlando for a 17th season.
Evan Mobley, the third pick in 2021, opened his sixth season with Cleveland after averaging 18.2 points and nine rebounds last year, and Onyeka Okongwu began his seventh in Atlanta off a career-high 15.2 points per game. Jordan McLaughlin with San Antonio, De’Anthony Melton with Golden State, Isaiah Collier with Utah and Bronny James with the Los Angeles Lakers fill out the list.
None of the eight played for current coach Eric Musselman, who is entering his third season at USC without a player drafted. At Arkansas, he sent six players to the NBA draft in five years, including Anthony Black at No. 6 in 2023.
The best bet to change that is sophomore guard Alijah Arenas, who put up 14.1 points a game in 14 appearances last season after a knee injury pushed back his debut and then passed on the 2026 draft. Senior guard Rodney Rice, back from a season-ending shoulder injury, and junior forward Jacob Cofie, who drew USC’s lone combine invitation in 2026, are also on scouts’ radar.
At the program’s first pro day since Musselman arrived, held this fall, scouts from more than 15 NBA franchises showed up to watch.
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