Tag: Desmond Claude

Xavier transfer Desmond Claude brings Big East savvy to USC basketball

Desmond Claude thrived in a tough Big East Conference. Eric Musselman recognized that.

Xavier transfer Desmond Claude from Putnam Academy in Putnam (Connecticut) has transferred to USC basketball and Eric Musselman. Claude won the Big East Most Improved Player Award last year by averaging 16.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game for the Musketeers. Claude shot 42.6 percent from the field, but only 23.9 percent from 3-point range last season.

He’s the No. 41 overall prospect in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings and the No. 9 point guard on the board. Coming out of high school, he was ranked No. 101 overall in the 2022 class.

“The vision that Coach Musselman laid out for me blends perfectly with my playmaking ability, NBA aspirations and ongoing development as a lead guard,” he said. “I’m excited to make the next big jump in my development and I’m especially excited to be a part of the USC family.”

Claude will likely start at point guard this upcoming season for the Trojans and coach Musselman.

One of the key attributes Claude brings to USC is Big East experience. He went up against national champion UConn, No. 2 seed (in the 2024 NCAA Tournament) Marquette, and No. 3 seed Creighton, among others, in a tough and rugged conference. That set of encounters against quality competition should help Claude — and Musselman — as they team together this season at USC.

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USC basketball looks for high-end transfers to round out 2025 roster

Eric Musselman is trying to land the added transfer portal piece which can make a difference for USC.

USC head coach Eric Mussleman is trying to get high-level transfer portal prospects to fill out his roster for the 2025 college basketball season. A new name on the list: Desmond Claude of Xavier. Claude averaged 16.6 points per game last season, playing in the cutthroat Big East, the same league as national champion UConn. Claude would be a big-time get for Musselman and USC, but the coach knows he has to look elsewhere as well.

Musselman has also been in contact with Manhattan small forward and guard Seydou Traore.

Traore just wrapped up his freshman season and averaged 11.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Traore was the third-best freshman rebounder in the country. He has three more years of eligibility remaining.

Traore shot 43% from the field in his freshman campaign. Traore earned MAAC All-Freshman and All-Defense honors.

He has also received interest from at least 16 other schools in addition to USC, with some of those schools including Florida State, Ole Miss, West Virginia, Marquette, Clemson and Oregon.

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