Key Returners so far: O.J. Mayo (52.4 eFG%, 4.5 RPG, 3.3 APG), Davon Jefferson (58.3 eFG%, 6.3 RPG, .8 APG), Taj Gibson (58.0 eFG%, 7.8 RPG, 1.3 APG).
Key Losses: None, USC does not have a single senior or player who has declared... yet
Key Additions: Demar Derozan (Rivals: 5/5, #1 SG, #2 Overall), Leonard Washington (Rivals: 3/5, SF)
If, and that's a huge IF, USC returns all of their players, they have the makings of a legitimate national championship contender. O.J. Mayo would be leading a squad that would start 5 players as talented and athletic as any other team in the country. But in order to win, USC's players (especially Jefferson) must develop the skillset to take full advantage of that raw talent.
The Trojans were wildly inconsistent all year. Just three games after holding both Kansas and Memphis to their season lows in regulation play, USC fell to conference foe California 92-82 . Moreover, USC had an excellent defense but could never put plays together consistently on offense. The guards often struggled to get the ball to Gibson in the post and were too hesitant to drive inside and kick it out. Hopefully incoming recruit Demar Derozan can help flesh out this area of SC's game. Also, keep an eye on whether Floyd succeeds or not in developing Leonard Washington. The former 5-star forward has experienced a rapid fall from grace thanks to academic and discipline problems, but Tim Floyd has developed other former delinquent players, including current star Davon Jefferson and the troubled Loderick Stewart.
USC heads into next season just like they came into last season, with a great deal of uncertainty. As long as two of the big three return the Trojans will be a legitimate player in the Pac 10, but if all three go Tim Floyd could be facing a tough season in the shadow of the omnipresent football program.
Washington [07-08: 8th, 16-17 (7-11)]
Key Returners: Jon Brockman (53.6 eFG%, 11.6 RPG, 1.1 APG), Quincy Pondexter (48.1 eFG%, 4.8 RPG, 1.9 APG).
Key Losses: Ryan Appleby (54.9 eFG%, 1.2 RPG, 1.4 APG)
Key Additions: Tyreese Breshers (Rivals: 4/5, #21 PF, #66 Overall), Isaiah Thomas (Rivals: 4/5, #15 PG, #89 Overall)
It has been a strange couple of years for Washington. Just two years ago the Huskies were competing with UCLA for the Pac 10 championship. That same year Washington advanced to the Sweet 16 (falling in overtime to UConn), and brought in a heralded recruiting class headed by top center Spencer Hawes. Despite this, Washington finished 19-13 with an 8-10 mark in conference.
Things only got worse in 2008 even though Lorenzo Romar brought in another quality recruiting class. I know next to nothing about recruiting high school prospects, but it makes one wonder about the ability of the Huskies' staff to correctly scout talent. Perhaps it is still premature to completely judge these classes, if all this potential talent comes together next season then Washington will be a force to be reckoned with. However, one thing is certain, someone will have to step up and take over Appleby's role as a perimeter shooter, otherwise the team is looking at the bottom of the Pac 10 once again.
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