Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports

USC Misses Landing 47% Shooter to Big Ten Rival

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Lorenzo J. Reyna | Last updated May 19, 2025 10:00 AM ET

The USC Trojans built the nation's fifth-best college basketball transfer portal class for 2025. But Eric Musselman and company missed landing a high-profile shooter who considered USC. Let alone a 47% shooter.

USC landed in the final mix for Miami guard Divine Ugochukwu. But he decided on USC's Big Ten rival Michigan State, per Justin Thind of 247Sports Sunday.

How did the Spartans win over the talented available guard? Thind revealed MSU hosted Ugochukwu on campus in East Lansing during the week of May 12. That visit, though, became a two-day one for the former Hurricanes shooter. He played sparingly for Miami (20.8 minutes per game). But still shot 47.3% on all field goal attempts.

Ugochukwu averaged 5.3 points per game off the bench. He also dished out 2.3 assists per contest. But he witnessed a sudden coaching change during the season.

His head coach Jim Larranaga resigned during the season around Christmas time. The longtime Hurricanes coach cited frustrations with the NIL landscape as to what persuaded his decision. He left as Miami's all-time winningest head coach and took "The U" to its first Final Four appearance in 2023.

Miami since turned to Jai Lucas as Larranaga's successor, who comes via Duke. However, the former assistant with the Blue Devils watched roster attrition unfold. Including Ugochukwu jumping into the portal.

Thind adds Texas Tech was in the final mix with USC to land the 6-foot-3 combo guard. Ugochukwu would've gone back to his home state had he chose the Red Raiders. He's a native of Sugar Land.

Now, Musselman and his coaching staff will game plan against the former 'Cane.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: