USC basketball started well in the early years of the NCAA Tournament with a Final Four appearance in 1940, which was just the second-ever season of the big dance. They were able to reach the Final Four again in 1954. Since then, it has been pretty much hit-and-miss for the Trojans. They have made plenty of gains in terms of talented players since then. In the last couple of decades, USC basketball has become a reliable pro-player factor.
Even though they haven’t been to a Final Four since the 1950s, the Trojans have had plenty of memorable seasons in recent history. They have reached the Elite 8 twice in the last 25 years. Despite several coaching changes in the previous decade, USC has qualified for the NCAA tournament five times. 2023-24 was a down year for the program, but their future seems bright with new coach Eric Musselman. Trojan basketball has had some highly touted players in recent years, but a majority of this all-time Trojan lineup comes from periods in time when the Trojans weren’t quite a national contender.
Let’s take a closer look at who made the cut.
USC Basketball: Trojans All-Time Starting Lineup
Guard: Bill Sharman
The first guard in this lineup has a very remarkable story. Bill Sharman, a very versatile athlete, served in World War II before attending USC. After serving, he began his collegiate career with the Trojans in 1946. Sharman excelled not only on the hardwood, but also as a baseball player. That versatility certainly helped him become the first real figure in USC basketball history. Despite not having many accolades during the early years of his Trojan basketball career, Sharman went from playing first base on the 1948 College World Series team to earning an All-American honor during his senior year in 1950 for USC basketball.
Sharman left USC with 1,107 career points and despite trying to make it professionally in baseball, he switched back to his real calling of basketball. He was originally drafted in 1950 by the Washington Capitals, who quickly disbanded, so his NBA success didn’t quite come until he took his talent to the Boston Celtics. He partnered with fellow outstanding guard Bob Cousy to help lead the Celtics to NBA championship glory four times. The first was in 1957, before winning three straight from 1959-1961. He was also honored as an eight-time NBA All-Star. When Sharman’s playing career was over, he went right into coaching and added another NBA championship to his resume as he led the Los Angeles Lakers to the title in 1972, which was the organization’s first since it moved to LA.
Sharman is easily the most recognizable figure in USC basketball history. His number 11 jersey is forever remembered as it was officially retired in 2007. After winning NBA championships as a player, coach, and later an executive, Sharman passed away in 2013 at the age of 87. His legacy is forever cemented as one of the great Men of Troy.
Guard: Paul Westphal
From the prominent Torrance, California, Paul Westphal took his basketball talent to USC in 1969. It was a good era for the Trojans when Westphal suited up for the red and yellow. He was a key piece for the Trojans in 1971 when they were able to go 24-2 and set a school record for winning percentage. The only problem was, that at that time the then Pac-8 only sent one team to the Big Dance. Unfortunately, rival UCLA got the NCAA invite. Despite the limitations in team success, Westphal made a huge leap for his senior campaign.
Westphal was named a team captain and was able to earn All-American honors. He was also a two-time All-Pac 8 player during his three seasons at USC. He finished his career with a scoring average of 16.4 points per game. His great collegiate career led to a great NBA opportunity, as he was the 10th overall selection in 1972 by the famed Boston Celtics.
He was fortunate to win a championship ring in 1974, before helping put the Phoenix Suns on the map. He helped the organization reach its first NBA Finals in 1975. Westphal certainly made a name for himself as a big-moment scorer. Along with being a five-time NBA All-Star, he was First Team All-NBA three times in 1976-77, 1978-79 and 1979-80. His number25 USC jersey is retired, as is his number 44 for the Suns. Like Sharman, Westphal also made waves as a coach when his playing career was done. He was able to coach both collegiately and in the NBA. He last served as an assistant for the Brooklyn Nets in 2016. Westphal passed away in 2021 at only 70 years old. Westphal certainly had a knack for making some circus shots in his illustrious career.
Guard: Harold Miner
Harold Miner, or as some referred to him as “Baby Jordan” arrived at USC with plenty of explosiveness. His dunking ability showed up during his high school career at Inglewood High School. Miner’s Trojan career began during the 1989-90 season. He was impressive from the start of the year, as he averaged 20 points as a freshman. It was enough to earn him the Pac-10 Rookie of the Year. He continued to impress as he followed it up with Pac-10 honors in 1990-91 and 1991-92, the latter of which was his final season at Southern Cal.
His junior season was exciting for both he and the Trojans, as he was named a First Team All-American. He even earned Sports Illustrated’s College National Player of the Year, over the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Christian Laettner, and Alonzo Mourning. USC was also able to earn a second seed for the NCAA tournament that season. Unfortunately, they were upset in the second round by Georgia Tech, on a last-second shot made by James Forrest. Miner left for the NBA early and was the 12th overall pick in 1992.
“Baby Jordan” was ready to make some noise, but despite winning two NBA Slam Dunk Contests in 1993 and 1995, Miner’s NBA career was over rather quickly. Officially, he only spent four seasons in the NBA. Even with the Michael Jordan comparisons, Miner didn’t make much of a mark in the league. Despite his short-lived NBA career, Miner’s number 23 is retired at USC, and he was an incredible scorer with over 2,000 points in three seasons.
Guard/ Forward: DeMar DeRozan
Call me crazy for putting a one-and-done player on the list, but what DeMar DeRozan did during the 2008-09 season was legendary. DeRozan joined the Trojans after an outstanding prep career at Compton High School. Overall, he was the third-ranked player in the country coming out of high school. He was right there in the conversation with other great prep stars, Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday.
He was a McDonald’s All-American for his outstanding efforts in high school. DeRozan also won the 2008 High School Dunk Contest at the event. Everyone knew he was special as soon as he arrived at Southern Cal, as he scored 21 points in his first game in a Trojan uniform. He helped guide the Trojans to a remarkable run in the Pac-10 Tournament, as he scored 21 points against rival UCLA to advance to the tournament final. He followed it up with 22 points as the Trojans captured the Pac-10 Tournament championship. In doing so, DeRozan was also named MVP.
After reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament, the Trojans were quickly dispatched by a rag-tag Michigan State squad, that included Draymond Green. In their five postseason games, DeRozan averaged 19.5 points per game, which is spectacular given he was only a freshman. He quickly knew his calling was the NBA, and after that remarkable season, he went pro. DeRozan ended up being the ninth overall pick in the 2009 Draft. He remains a key player in the NBA to this day where he is currently a member of the Sacramento Kings. Despite only playing one collegiate season his number 10 jersey is retired at USC.
Forward: Taj Gibson
The final piece, might not be a true center, but he’s got the heart of one. Taj Gibson gave USC everything he had during his career. While DeRozan was making all the headlines in 2008-09, Gibson was the quiet ringleader who helped that team reach its success. Gibson had a bumpy path to college. Gibson was 21-years-old as a freshman in 2007, which made him one of the oldest in the country. He had a great first season, as he was able to grab a Pac-10 All-Freshman honor. He quickly grew into an outstanding defensive player for the Trojans. During the 2007-08 season, Gibson helped lead USC to an upset of rival UCLA, who was one of the best teams in the country that season. That paved the way for an outstanding 2008-09 season for Taj.
Not only was he an All-Pac-10 player in 2008-09, he also won the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. In his three seasons at USC, Gibson was able to score over 1,000 points, and he also recorded over 800 career rebounds. His scoring, rebounding, and defensive skill led to his selection in the 2009 NBA Draft with the 26th pick. He spent over a decade with the Chicago Bulls from 2009 until 2017, where he was able to earn an All-NBA Rookie honor in 2010. Since 2017, Gibson has bounced around the league, but he still remains a solid depth piece. He currently plays for the Charlotte Hornets. A double-digit scorer and tough rebounder, Gibson certainly showcased great leadership during his Trojan career.
See Previous All-Time Big Ten Teams Below:
