Last week, USC men’s basketball got a massive boost when it was announced that Rodney Rice will be returning to the Trojans for the 2026-2027 season. Rice averaged 20.3 points per game for USC in six appearances early this past season, but suffered a shoulder injury in late November that sidelined him for the rest of the year.
Now, Rice is set to return next season with the hope of staying healthy this time around. With Rice back, comebacks from injuries will seemingly be the theme at Galen Center next winter.
How the USC men’s team fares next season will be massively affected by the performance of Rice in his return to the court. Meanwhile, the Women of Troy will be led by Juju Watkins, who will be coming back from a knee injury that kept her out for the entire 2025-2026 season.
In Rice and Watkins, both USC basketball teams will have strong veteran leadership next season, which is a great thing. How the two players fare in their respective returns from injuries may very well determine whether or not the 2026-2027 season at Galen Center is a successful one.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Rodney Rice, Juju Watkins comebacks will define USC basketball in 2027
Reporting by Adam Bradford, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
