USC big man Iaroslav Niagu enters transfer portal, which is good for Trojans

Excellent news. Niagu was not going to get big minutes behind Iwuchukwu, Morgan and Kijani Wright. #USC can improve its roster.

Some transfers are clearly bad news. Some transfers are hard to pin down in terms of their value to a program. Some transfers are unquestionably good news for a program. The transfer of USC big man Iaroslav Niagu is clearly good news for the Trojans and Andy Enfield.

We wish Niagu the best as he enters the portal. Niagu and other transfers deserve to find a place where they can play extended minutes. That was simply not going to happen for Niagu in 2024 at USC.

With Vince Iwuchukwu coming back alongside Joshua Morgan and Kijani Wright, USC has depth in the low post. USC has enough bigs. Niagu was never going to get good minutes on next season’s team. There was simply not a place for him due to Iwuchukwu being limited by health problems and needing to come back for a sophomore season. Had Iwuchukwu been fully healthy this past season, his draft stock might have been high enough for him to go to the NBA. His health problems led to a truncated season. Iwuchukwu, presumably recovered and healthy, can now focus on making his sophomore season a catapult toward an NBA career one year from now.

Niagu simply wouldn’t have had a chance to play much. He needs a fresh start.

Meanwhile, USC now has another open roster slot where it can get a high-level player and improve its product.

The Trojans need a wing shooter and a stretch four to pair with point guard Isaiah Collier. The wing shooter is the number one need. The stretch four is the second big ingredient USC can use. If the Trojans can at least get the wing shooter to place alongside Collier, USC could have a top-10-quality team next season. If USC gets both the wing shooter and the stretch four, the Trojans could be a Final Four contender. They really could be if they can find two ideal fits in the portal, not merely one.

Niagu leaving increases the chances that USC can get two high-level upgrades instead of one. It’s very good news, and Andy Enfield needs to make it count by selling transfer targets on the idea of playing with Collier and Iwuchukwu.

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