USC’s New Center Commitment

Eric Musselman has identified a possible starting center for the upcoming basketball season.

On Monday, Musselman, the men’s basketball coach at the University of Southern California, announced that he has secured Erik Leibe, a 7-foot-1 center from Germany, after he pledged his commitment via social media.

If Aliyah Arenas decides to return to team up with Rodney Rice and KJ Lewis in the backcourt, Leibe could pair with forward Jacob Coffey in the Trojans’ starting lineup.

Leibe, despite limited playtime as a freshman with the Huskies, has shown promise, especially after Taris Reed Jr. came back from an ankle injury in December.

During his freshman year, Leibe started five games and made notable contributions against strong opponents, scoring 15 points and blocking two shots versus Arizona, as well as 12 points alongside eight rebounds and two blocks against Kansas.

This past season, he averaged 5.9 points and 3.3 rebounds over about 14 minutes per game, shooting an impressive 65.8 percent from the field and accumulating 29 blocked shots.

Leibe was previously recognized as a McDonald’s All-American and was considered the best high school center in his class while playing at a private school in Maryland.

He will be joining the team alongside incoming McDonald’s All-American recruits, including 7-foot twins Adonis and Darius Ratliff, and forward Christian Collins, potentially positioning the Trojans for a strong season under Musselman.

Furthermore, USC plans to enhance their backcourt by targeting additional guards through the transfer portal, having recently acquired Lewis from Georgetown.