USC leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara no longer with program

USC ahead Chad Baker-Mazarathe group’s leading scorer, is no longer a member of the lads’s basketball program, the college introduced Sunday.

Baker-Mazara left Saturday’s home loss to No. 12 Nebraska early within the second half following a tough fall after he blocked a shot from Pryce Sandfort. Baker-Mazara advised coach Eric Musselman he could not return in, then sat close to injured USC star Rodney Rice in an space with followers as a substitute of the bench with the remainder of the group.

No cause or particulars for Baker-Mazara’s program departure had been supplied in USC’s transient assertion issued by means of group spokesperson Kristen Keller, who advised The Associated Press in a textual content message: “We have nothing additional to add at this time.”

After Saturday’s sport, Musselman was requested about Baker-Mazara’s potential harm and future standing.

“He said he couldn’t go,” Musselman stated, including that he had not spoken to an athletic coach in regards to the participant’s well being.

Asked whether or not it was customary for Baker-Mazara to be sitting subsequent to followers, Musselman stated it was due to a scarcity of chairs on the bench.

Baker-Mazara, a 26-year-old graduate scholar, transferred to USC final spring because the fifth cease of his faculty profession. I’ve dedicated to Duquesne out of Spire Academy (Ohio), transferred to San Diego State After his freshman yr for one season, he then spent a yr in junior faculty at Northwest Florida State.

Baker-Mazara lastly discovered some stability at Auburn throughout his two campaigns with the Tigers. He began 43 video games, averaging 11.2 factors and three.3 rebounds and taking pictures practically 40% from 3-point vary. He was a key starter on Auburn’s 2024-25 group that gained the SEC regular-season title and superior to the Final Four.

He was on the transfer once more after the Final Four run, transferring to USC to play for Musselman. Baker-Mazara turned the Trojans’ high offensive possibility as soon as Rice went down due to a season-ending shoulder harm in late November and averaged a career-high 18.5 factors in 26 video games whereas additionally placing up profession highs in rebounding (4.2) and assists (2.8).

Baker-Mazara sat out three video games in February due to a knee harm however returned to attain 21 factors towards Oregon and 25 factors versus UCLA earlier than Saturday’s abbreviated efficiency.

USC (18-11, 7-11 Big Ten) was in place for its first NCAA match bid since 2023, however the Trojans have misplaced 5 video games in a row, and their standing is unsure. They finish the common season with video games at Washington and residential towards UCLA this week.

Information from The Associated Press was used on this report.