USC has added a skilled guard to pair alongside Rodney Rice in its backcourt next season.
The Trojans on Tuesday landed a commitment from K.J. Lewis, the former Arizona Wildcat-turned-Georgetown Hoya who will complete his college career on the West Coast.
Lewis, who has one season of eligibility remaining, retweeted news of his commitment, confirming his decision.
As a full-time starter for the Hoyas last season, Lewis averaged a career-high 14.9 points along with 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists while making 31.8% of his 3-pointers.
He’ll presumably reprise that role next to Rice, who has committed to returning next season after being limited to only six games by a shoulder injury in his debut season as a Trojan.
Rice and Lewis could comprise one of the top backcourts in the Big Ten, powering a breakthrough for coach Eric Musselman after the Trojans missed the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two seasons.
The big question is whether they will be joined by guard Alijah Arenas, who must decide about his future after an injury-delayed freshman season. Arenas could opt for the NBA draft, return to USC or transfer to another school after a sometimes-frustrating season in which he showed tantalizing potential as well as areas to target for improvement.
USC could also return forward Jacob Cofie and is on the verge of welcoming a heralded freshman class that includes highly coveted forward Christian Collins and 7-foot twins Darius and Adonis Ratliff.
