Chad Baker-Mazara is the biggest offseason addition to the USC basketball roster in the transfer portal. The overall career numbers look solid for the former Auburn Tiger, but an important point to make about Baker-Mazara is that he is a seasoned veteran player who continues to improve. Auburn Wire has more on this point:
“Auburn senior guard Chad Baker-Mazara was named among the finalists for the Julius Erving Award this week. The award, which is given to the best small forward in college basketball, has never been won by an Auburn Tiger since its creation in 2014. Other than Baker-Mazara, St. John’s guard RJ Luis Jr., Rutgers freshman Ace Bailey, fellow SEC forward Jaxson Robinson, and Duke phenom Cooper Flagg were named among the five finalists. Flagg, who is the overwhelming favorite to edge-out Baker-Mazara’s teammate Johni Broome for the ‘National Player of the Year,’ is also considered the favorite for the ‘Julius Erving Award.’
“Auburn’s top scorer in the backcourt, Baker-Mazara is averaging 13.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game this season. The 1.2 thefts per contest lead the Tigers, while the senior’s 47.4% field goal percentage is best among non-front court players on the team.”
Chad Baker-Mazara set personal records in several statistical categories last season at Auburn. If Cooper Flagg did not exist — or played another position — CBM might have been the best small forward in college basketball. He also does a little bit of everything: scoring, defense, rebounding. The more one looks at Baker-Mazara, the more one can be confidennt that USC is getting a well-rounded player who will be there every night, making significant contributions to the Trojans.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Chad Baker-Mazara’s body of work looks better the more one studies it
Reporting by Matt Zemek / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
