"We wanted guys who could play multiple positions": USC HC Eric Musselman recruits versatile players to overcome thin point guard and center positions

USC head coach Eric Musselman and his staff spent a month confined in a rental room in Manhattan Beach to complete the Trojans' roster. When he arrived at USC in April, only a handful of players were left in the squad.

Within a month, Musselman, along with his team of three — his son Michael, Will Conroy and Anthony Ruta — worked tirelessly to assemble the team from scratch. By May 30, they had brought in 12 players, with 10 coming from the transfer portal and two being freshmen.

Musselman talked about what he looks for when recruiting players.

"At USC, there's the academic piece as well. Our pool of recruits is different than other places that I've been, so I think that that is an added piece to the recruiting process here.

"We wanted guys that really wanted to be here, and then, from a stylistic [point], we wanted guys who could play multiple positions," Musselman said.

"We felt in year one it was super important that we had versatility, guys 6-foot-5, 6-foot-6, 6-foot-7. We do have some duplications of that, some guys are going to have to play out position."

Eric Musselman also mentioned that there is a lack of depth at point guard and center, so his players have to adapt to play in different positions whenever required.

Eric Musselman's potential starting lineup at USC

Eric Musselman agreed to join the University of Southern California in April 2024. With a strategic overhaul, Musselman now has a plethora of young talent to select from.

Here’s a potential starting lineup for USC for the 2024-25 season.

• Clark Slajchert - Guard | 6-10, 170 lbs
• Bryce Pope - Guard | 6-3, 185 lbs
• Rashaun Agee - Forward | 6-8, 225 lbs
• Harrison Hornery - Forward | 6-10, 230 lbs
• Desmond Claude - Guard | 6-6, 207 lbs

Musselman boasts an overall record of 221 wins and 93 losses in college hoops, 108 wins and 138 losses in the NBA, 270 wins and 122 losses in the CBA, 53 wins and 3 losses in the USBL, 77 wins and 30 losses in the D-League, and a record of 10-6 in NCAA tournaments.