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USC MBB Bolsters Backcourt With Georgetown Transfer
TL;DR
USC men's basketball has added Georgetown transfer KJ Lewis to strengthen its backcourt for the upcoming season. Lewis, a former starting guard, committed to USC on Tuesday and is the first transfer for the Trojans this offseason.
Georgetown Hoyas guard KJ Lewis (5) shoots the ball against UConn Huskies guard Solo Ball (1) in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
USC men’s basketball is bolstering its backcourt for next season with the addition of transfer KJ Lewis. Lewis was a full-time starting guard for Georgetown last season and will be a strong partner for guard Rodney Rice next season.
Lewis reportedly committed to USC on Tuesday with one year of NCAA eligibility remaining, per On3’s Joe Tipton. He is the Trojans’ first transfer commitment of the offseason.
USC has lost four of its rotation guards to the transfer portal this offseason: EJ Neal Jr., Amarion Dickerson, Jerry Easter II and Jordan Marsh. The addition of Lewis will help make up for the loss of those players.
What Does Lewis Bring to USC?
Lewis spent his junior season playing at Georgetown where he was named an All-Big East Third Team selection. He averaged 14.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 29 games this season.
Lewis, who was a four-star Top 100 recruit in high school, played the first two seasons of his career at Arizona. He was a Pac-12 All-Freshman Honorable Mention during the 2023-24 season and helped the Wildcats reach the Sweet 16 in back-to-back seasons.
The 6-foot-4 guard is expected to take on a full-time starting role for the Trojans next season.
USC’s backcourt started to struggle when Rice and Dickerson sustained season-ending injuries in November and December, respectively. The Trojans started the season 12-1 but then ultimately finished the season with a 18-14 overall record and 7-13 Big Ten record.
USC missed the NCAA Tournament for the third season in a row and second time under head coach Eric Musselman.
The addition of Lewis along with the arrival of 247Sports’ No. 6 overall-ranked recruiting class could help the Trojans get back to the NCAA Tournament. That recruiting class includes three McDonald’s All-Americans: five-star forward Christian Collins and four-star twins Adonis Ratliff and Darius Ratliff.
Photo Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Q&A
Who is KJ Lewis and what is his background in college basketball?
KJ Lewis is a former starting guard for the Georgetown Hoyas, known for his performance in the previous season before transferring to USC.
Why did USC men’s basketball need to add KJ Lewis?
USC needed to add KJ Lewis to compensate for the loss of four rotation guards who entered the transfer portal this offseason.
What impact is KJ Lewis expected to have on USC's basketball team?
KJ Lewis is expected to be a strong partner for guard Rodney Rice and enhance USC's backcourt depth for the upcoming season.
