USC Lands Auburn Transfer Guard on Monday

Auburn's second-leading scorer from 2024 has committed to the USC Trojans, where he will play under former Arkansas Razorback head coach Eric Musselman in Los Angeles.

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On Monday, Joe Tipton of On3 Sports reported that Chad Baker-Mazara has committed to USC, where he will head down to Hollywood to play for Musselman and the storied USC Trojan program.

Mazara entered the transfer portal on April 17th, leaving the college basketball world in shock. All indications suggested that the 6-foot-7, 180-pound guard would be returning to Auburn for his final year of eligibility. The Tigers' second-leading scorer for 2024 had even teased a return to the Auburn fans on social media.

The fifth-year senior previously played at Duquesne from 2020 to 2021, then at San Diego State from 2021 to 2022, followed by a brief period at Northwest Florida State College (junior college) during the 2022-2023 season. He joined Auburn in 2023, where he played for the next two seasons. During his time at Auburn, he averaged 11.2 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, and 2.5 assists per game, shooting 44.2% from the field and 39.4% from three-point range.

USC has acquired a versatile guard who can score points on short notice. Additionally, the Trojans have gained a remarkable defensive player in Mazara, who stands 6-foot-7. His height allows him to challenge opposing guards effectively. Last season at Auburn, Mazara led the team in steals, averaging 1.2 steals per game.

Mussleman and the Trojans are bringing in an experienced guard who has performed well in high-pressure situations. Mazara had an outstanding performance in the Tigers' final game of the season, which was a Final Four matchup against Florida. In that game, Mazara recorded 18 points, three rebounds, two assists, and an impressive four steals, despite Auburn's 79-73 loss to the Gators, who went on to win the National Championship.

Adding Mazara to the roster brings many benefits, but there are some drawbacks to consider. He is known for his antics on the court, which have led to him leaving games early due to technical fouls. During his two years at Auburn, Mazara was ejected from two games for losing his temper. One of these ejections occurred during the Tigers' first-round loss to Yale in the 2023-2024 NCAA Tournament. The second ejection happened in the second matchup between Alabama and Auburn in 2025, where Mazara was removed from the game in the final minutes of the second half during the Tigers' overtime loss to the Tide.

Despite the on-court altercations, Mazara is a must-have guard for any team, and USC will look to use the experienced guard to help get the Trojans back to their winning way after missing last year's tournament after the team finished the 2024-2025 season with a record of 17-18 in Mussleman's first season with the program.

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