College basketball 2017-18 preseason Top 25

By Chris Stone | Nov 8, 2017

BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 16: Allonzo Trier #35 of the Arizona Wildcats dribbles Sigu #1 of the Mataro All-Stars during the Arizona In Espana Foreign Tour game between Mataro All-Stars and Arizona on August 16, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) /

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DAYTON, OH – MARCH 15: (L-R) Jonah Mathews #2, De’Anthony Melton #22 and Chimezie Metu #4 of the USC Trojans look on in the second half against the Providence Friars during the First Four game in the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 15, 2017 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No. 8 USC Trojans

Notable departures: Charles Buggs
Notable returnees: Shaqquan Aaron, Bennie Boatwright, Jonah Mathews, Jordan McLaughlin, De’Anthony Melton, Chimezie Metu, Nick Rakocevic, Elijah Stewart
Notable newcomers: Charles O’Bannon Jr., Derryck Thornton, Jordan Usher, Victor Uyaelunmo

Like the Michigan State Spartans, the USC Trojans will be banking on significant improvements from returning players to take a leap forward as a team in 2017-18. All eight guys who played in the Trojans’ surprise appearance in the 2017 Sweet Sixteen will be back for another campaign. It’s difficult to imagine that USC will get significantly more out of double-digit scorers like Bennie Boatwright, Chimezie Metu and Jordan McLaughlin beyond improved efficiency numbers, but rising sophomore De’Anthony Melton could be poised for a breakout season.

The rising sophomore has already received praise from NBA Draft diehards for his ability to affect the game in a variety of ways. Last season, Melton averaged 4.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.0 blocks per contest. Future Hall of Fame Dwyane Wade is the only other freshman to match those marks since at least 1992-93. However, the 6-foot-4 guard has room to grow as a scorer. While he probably won’t be tasked much with creating offense — a good thing since he ranked in just the 10th percentile nationally as a pick-and-roll ball-handler last season, per Synergy Sports — he will need to become a complementary threat capable of knocking down open shots. Melton made just 28.4 percent of his 3s as a freshman and finished in the 33rd percentile on catch-and-shoots. If he can improve those numbers, the Trojans will benefit immensely.

New addition Derryck Thornton should also be able to give USC a new look this season. The Duke transfer never quite found his way with the Blue Devils, but he’ll have a chance to add something this season as an offensive creator off the bench. Thornton will need to improve on the rocky numbers he delivered as a freshman, but the potential is there, especially given that he sat out last season.

Read our full USC preview here.