Jeff BorzelloMar 1, 2026, 07:00 PM ETClose Basketball recruiting insider. Joined ESPN in 2014. Graduate of University of Delaware.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Chad Baker-Mazara sits in crowd after returning from USC locker room (0:55)In what turned out to be his final game with USC, Chad Baker-Mazara opts to sit with fans instead of on the team’s bench. (0:55)
USC forward Chad Baker-Mazara, the team’s leading scorer, is no longer a member of the men’s basketball program, the school announced Sunday.
No reason or details for Baker-Mazara’s program departure were provided in USC’s brief statement issued through team spokesperson Kristen Keller, who told The Associated Press in a text message: “We have nothing additional to add at this time.”
Asked whether it was customary for Baker-Mazara to be sitting next to fans, Musselman said it was because of a shortage of chairs on the bench.
Baker-Mazara, a 26-year-old graduate student, transferred to USC last spring as the fifth stop of his college career. He committed to Duquesne out of Spire Academy (Ohio), transferred to San Diego State after his freshman year for one season, then spent a year in junior college at Northwest Florida State.
Baker-Mazara finally found some stability at Auburn during his two campaigns with the Tigers. He started 43 games, averaging 11.2 points and 3.3 rebounds and shooting nearly 40% from 3-point range. He was a key starter on Auburn’s 2024-25 team that won the SEC regular-season title and advanced to the Final Four.
He was on the move again after the Final Four run, transferring to USC to play for Musselman. Baker-Mazara became the Trojans’ top offensive option once Rice went down because of a season-ending shoulder injury in late November and averaged a career-high 18.5 points in 26 games while also putting up career highs in rebounding (4.2) and assists (2.8).
Baker-Mazara sat out three games in February because of a knee injury but returned to score 21 points against Oregon and 25 points versus UCLA before Saturday’s abbreviated performance.
Chad Baker-Mazara sits in crowd after returning from USC locker room (0:55)In what turned out to be his final game with USC, Chad Baker-Mazara opts to sit with fans instead of on the team’s bench. (0:55)
In what turned out to be his final game with USC, Chad Baker-Mazara opts to sit with fans instead of on the team’s bench. (0:55)
Jeff BorzelloMar 1, 2026, 07:00 PM ETClose Basketball recruiting insider. Joined ESPN in 2014. Graduate of University of Delaware.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Close Basketball recruiting insider. Joined ESPN in 2014. Graduate of University of Delaware.Follow on X
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.