USC men’s basketball forward Chad Baker-Mazara is reportedly no longer part of the program, the school announced Sunday. He was the Trojans’ leading scorer this season.
January 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, United States; Southern California Trojans guard Chad Baker-Mazara (4) shoots the ball against Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Harun Zrno (13) in the second half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Baker-Mazara played his final game for USC on Saturday when the Trojans lost to No. 12 Nebraska at the Galen Center. The 26-year-old graduate student left the game early after taking a hard fall while blocking a shot from Nebraska forward Pryce Sandfort early in the second half.
Advertisement
After the game, USC coach Eric Musselman told reporters that Baker-Mazara said he couldn’t return to the game after the fall. Baker-Mazara was seen sitting in an area near fans and away from the team bench for the remainder of the game.
According to a report by Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times, Baker-Mazara’s dismissal from the show was the result of multiple issues and not a single incident.
USC still fighting for an NCAA tournament bid
Losing Baker-Mazara at this point in the season is a big disadvantage for the Trojans, who are still fighting for their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2023.
Advertisement
The Trojans have lost five games in a row and have just two more regular season games left to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament. USC will face Washington on the road on Wednesday and then finish the regular season against UCLA on Saturday at the Galen Center.
Baker-Mazara, who transferred to USC from Auburn this season, averaged a team-leading 18.5 points per game and shot a team-best 38 percent from beyond the arc. He also helped lead Auburn to a Final Four last season before joining USC.
After USC star Rodney Rice suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in late November, Baker-Mazara took a step forward in the Trojans’ offense. Now, USC will conquer the rest of the season without Rice and Baker-Mazara on the court.
Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The post USC leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara no longer part of men’s basketball program appeared first on LA Sports Report.