Advertisement - scroll for more content
During his time as the head coach of USC men's basketball, Eric Musselman has loved bringing in NBA players and coaches to Galen Center for workouts. On Tuesday, Musselman welcomed a contingent from the Sacramento Kings: DeMar DeRozan, Zach Levine, Mason Jones and head coach Doug Christie.
Another Arenas will soon be on college basketball courts. 5-star guard Alijah Arenas, the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, announced his commitment to USC on Thursday. Alijah called USC coach Eric Musselman during "Gil's Arena," Gilbert's podcast, to deliver the news. "Let's go!" Musselman screamed on the phone as Alijah sat next to his dad and former NBA guard Nick Young. Alijah then took off his jacket to reveal a No. 0 USC jersey, alluding to Gilbert's nickname, "Agent Zero."
Clemente Almanza: Jaylin Williams on his college allegiance: "I'm Arkansas for my life. Wooo Pig!... Cal is obviously our coach now. Of course, I'm gonna be a Razorback." Also mentioned he'll keep in touch with Eric Musselman: "Those coaches helped me get where I am today."
“I could see a reason to pick all three of them,” Eric Musselman told The Athletic this week. “They’re all legitimate top-three picks. If you’re drafting that high and there’s not much separation, trade the pick. But these guys are all worthy. The amazing thing to me about all three of them is what they can do at their size and age. These are freshmen. We aren’t talking about somebody in their fourth or fifth year who is maxed out. So now it’s what is their work ethic and what kind of organization do they end up with? That’ll determine how these three careers unfold. But they each have the tools you’re looking for at the top of the draft. In the NBA, it’s simple: What super skill do you have that sets you apart from others? If you don’t have one, then you’re just a rotation guy.”
Advertisement
Paolo Banchero, Duke Musselman on offense: “He was the one we just had no answer for. Our scouting report couldn’t take anything away from him. When they needed a basket, it went to him. He got the ball off where we couldn’t double-team or soft-trap him. He makes 3s and just kept improving as a 3-point shooter over the year. He knows how to draw fouls. He’s excellent in the midrange. He’s got a good jab-step, pull-up jump shot. Got a really good turnaround jump shot. Can run the floor. Actually, you know what? I think he might be even more athletic than Jabari. It’s probably about even.”
Jabari Smith, Auburn Musselman on offense: “He’s so unique with his ability to make shots from so deep and doesn’t need a lot of dribbles to get them off. He can shoot over people. There’s just not a lot of guys his age or size who can shoot transition 3s off the run and catch like he can. It’s a little bit like Klay Thompson, who doesn’t dribble a lot and can be in a dead sprint, catch, plant and stick it. Jabari does that really well, which is a remarkable thing at 6-10. Our plan was just to crowd him, not let him go left at all. We felt like if he got the left-hand, 1-2 dribble, he was virtually unstoppable. He’s really unique, because you don’t often see a right-handed player love to put the ball on the deck with his left hand. We went through all his makes and felt like he was probably the most unique right-hand guy we’ve ever seen.”
Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga Musselman on offense: “Tremendous upside with his length, shooting and passing. He’s really intriguing. For us, the game plan was to get up under him out on the perimeter, get as low as we possibly could and try to swallow up any dribbles that he might take. And then in the post, it was to use our low center of gravity and try to be as physical as possible. Any time he sets screens, just be as physical as we could and try to impede his path anywhere that he was on the floor. We wanted our strongest, most physical player on him.”
Advertisement
Jeff Goodman: Arkansas coach Eric Musselman is finalizing a new multi-year contract that will keep him with the Razorbacks, source told @Stadium. Musselman led Arkansas to the Elite Eight in just his second season at the helm.
Eric Musselman and the Arkansas Razorbacks on Thursday extended 2022 Creed Williamson of Little Rock the opportunity to become a Hoop Hogs legacy, offering him a scholarship roughly 26 years after his father led the school to its only national championship in college basketball. Williamson (6-8 forward, Little Rock Christian Academy, Joe Johnson Hawks) is the son of Razorbacks legend Corliss Williamson, who was a two-time SEC Player of the Year and the catalyst for the Razorbacks’ national title in 1993-94 before a long NBA career that included a season playing for Musselman.
His time with the Timberwolves may be edifying in what to expect from him as Knicks head coach, a job he was picked for last month. Thibodeau says he used the past year as a learning experience, visiting teams and friends around the NBA. Those close to Thibodeau say they haven’t discussed his Timberwolves days with him, nor see what made it go awry. “I don’t think anything went wrong,” says Eric Musselman, a longtime friend. “I think he did an incredible job.”
Joe, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, averaged 16.9 points and 4.1 rebounds last season. However, he missed six games in January and February due to a knee injury. Without Joe in the lineup, Arkansas went 1-5. With a healthy Joe, the Razorbacks were 19-7. "We are so excited to have Isaiah back," coach Eric Musselman said. "He received incredible feedback from the NBA and got valuable experience with NBA interviews. We know how hard of a decision this was for Isaiah and his family. Zai's goal is to have a long NBA career and we can't wait to continue helping him reach his dream."
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement