Report: Isaiah Mobley to stay in 2022 NBA Draft, Boogie Ellis to return to USC

The NBA Draft decisions are reportedly in for two USC stars.

Isaiah Mobley is staying in the draft and Boogie Ellis is preparing to withdraw and return to the Trojans next season, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. Those are two huge decisions as USC gets ready for the 2022-23 season.

Mobley’s name didn’t appear in any mock drafts from ESPN, USA Today or CBS Sports after the NBA Draft lottery, but that could change as players decide to stay in the draft or return to college. It’s his second time testing the draft waters after doing the same last year before returning to USC.

Last year as a junior, Mobley averaged 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds on 44.5% shooting from the field. He helped the Trojans to a 26-8 overall record, including 14-6 record in Pac-12 play. Out of high school, he was a five-star recruit and the nation’s No. 17 player from the Class of 2019, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

More on Boogie Ellis

Ellis is the other big domino to fall for USC after ranking second on the Trojans in scoring behind Mobley last season. He averaged 12.5 points per game for the Trojans as a junior but will head back to Los Angeles for another go-round with Andy Enfield’s group.

As a recruit, Ellis was a four-star recruit and the No. 42 player in the country from the class of 2019, according to the On3 Consensus.

USC has four players coming in from its 2022 recruiting class, which ranks No. 17 in the nation, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking. Leading the charge are four-stars Tre White and Vince Iwuchuckwu — the nation’s No. 30 and No. 33 players, respectively. Four-star Kijani Wright is the third top-50 prospect to join USC, coming in as the No. 47 player in the country.