Where USC Trojans Are Going in Way-Too-Early 2024 Mock Drafts

No USC players was selected in this week’s NBA Draft, snapping a five-year streak of Trojans hearing their names called. A new streak should start with the 2024 NBA Draft as the Trojans will very likely have at least one and perhaps multiple first-round selections.

With the conclusion of the 2023 draft, it was expected that many outlets would take a way-too-early look at the potential for the 2024 edition. Here’s where USC players are landing in those mock drafts.

ESPN

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony released his 2024 mock draft all the way back in February. He sees two Trojans going in the top 10 picks of next year’s draft.

Givony has point guard Isaiah Collier going No. 5 overall to the Chicago Bulls. And he has Bronny James getting picked at No. 10, by the Orlando Magic.

CBS

Gary Parrish of CBS Sports only went with the 14 lottery picks. He has Collier firmly among the top prospects, going No. 5 to the Orlando Magic.

Parrish says: “Collier is a pass-first point guard who was the co-MVP of the 2023 McDonald’s All-America Game — and the 2023 Naismith Prep Player of the Year, an award previously won by future stars Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Next season, the 6-3 pick-and-roll maestro will likely start in USC’s backcourt alongside Boogie Ellis and Bronny James.”

Yahoo! Sports

Krysten Peek of Yahoo! Sports sees the same two Trojans going in the first round next year.

She gives another prediction for Collier going No. 5 overall, though she doesn’t try to match picks to teams.

Of the pick, she says: “Collier was the best guard on the court in both high school all-star games and showed scouts why he was the No. 1 guard coming out of high school. He’s a pass-first point guard who excels when getting downhill and finding open teammates. Collier made an effort to show scouts a little more of his outside game, hitting a few 3-pointers off the dribble in the Team USA scrimmage. During the McDonald’s All-American Game, Collier led all players with 25 points. He finished with 11 points in the 90-84 win over the World team at Nike Hoop Summit. Collier and Bronny James showed glimpses of what they could do in the backcourt together during postseason all-star games. With Collier’s big-guard, bully-style game, it will open the floor up more for James to get open 3s.”

Bronny slides down the first round a big for her, as James lands at No. 28 overall.

“All eyes will be on James and USC this season to see what he can do at the college level. It will benefit James playing alongside elite playmakers like Boogie Ellis and Collier with how well he shoots the ball from 3-point range. With a potential package with dad LeBron, there will be more at stake for Bronny’s draft range next year. He made a first good impression with NBA scouts as a complementary piece alongside the perimeter who can knock down shots. Defensively, he was one of the best on-ball guards in his high school class and uses his athleticism to challenge players at the rim and chase down guards in transition.”

NBA Draftroom

NBA Draftroom has both Collier and James going in the first round.

Collier is in at No. 7 to the Houston Rockets. The player comparison used here is “bulky Stephon Marbury.”

And it’s another pick for James to go No. 28 overall, to the Milwaukee Bucks. The players comparisons used here are George Hill and Avery Bradley.

SBNation

SBNation’s Ricky O’Donnell has both USC players going among the Lottery picks.

Collier is the No. 3 overall pick here, and James is off the board at No. 13.

Collier is the first players mentioned the “safest lottery picks among the college freshmen.”

O’Donnell says: “Masterful facilitator and pick-and-roll manipulator who can throw every pass in the book. Has a strong 6’3 frame and knows how to control the tempo and play with pace even if he doesn’t have top-end athleticism. The big hole in his game right now is his shooting. Teams will want to see how willing he is to shoot from deep with the Trojans, as well as gauging his shooting touch both from deep and from the foul line.”