USC guard Rodney Rice believes he can an All-American next season

One never knows what they might learn about a new teammate.

USC men’s basketball forward Joshua Hughes, a native of Australia, disclosed Monday that he once squared up a kangaroo.

Identical twins Adonis and Darius Ratliff aren’t identical in appearance – Adonis has free-flowing hair, Darius wears his in braids.

Meanwhile, senior guard Rodney Rice made a bold proclamation that could bring some much-needed buzz to a program lacking in pizzazz.

“I can play at an All-American level,” Rice said while standing in a corridor of the Galen Center after an open summer practice.

Rodney Rice averaged 20.3 points and 6.0 assists before going down after only six games with a season-ending shoulder injury. Getty Images

That would be something.

All-Americans around this team are as rare as Trojan fans who adore the color blue.

Harold Miner was USC’s last first-team All-American – in 1991-92. Since then, only Sam Clancy, in 2001-02, and Evan Mobley, in 2020-21, have earned so much as second-team status.

That would make Rice something of a welcome outlier if he can make his words come true. He certainly played like an All-American at the start of last season, averaging 20.3 points and 6.0 assists before going down after only six games with a season-ending shoulder injury.

Of course, the personnel on that team and the one that briefly scrimmaged Monday differ greatly after coach Eric Musselman brought in three freshmen and seven transfers.

These Trojans appear to feature far more talent and depth, including five McDonald’s All-Americans in the Ratliff twins, freshman forward Christian Collins, transfer center Eric Reibe and sophomore swingman Alijah Arenas.

How might that elevate Rice’s game?

“Any time a player – especially a scorer – has other talent around him, it will open up things even more,” Musselman said. “I thought there were times a defense last year was so focused on him, so we hope that we have some lob threats and even in pick-and-roll play, you hope that that helps to some degree.”

Rice is fully healthy this summer and going through offseason workouts as the Trojans have one of their most talented teams this century. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The arrival of transfer Jalen Cox, a speedy point guard from Colgate, should free Rice from some of his ballhandling responsibilities.

“Just being able to show my versatility, playing on and off the ball,” Rice said, “showing that I can score, of course, as well as facilitate – I feel like that’s an underrated part of my game.”

Rice hasn’t gotten to fully show his new teammates what he can do. Rounding into form from his injury, he’s only participating in the non-contact portions of practice.

As the Trojans scrimmaged on one side of the court Monday, Rice took a series of jumpers on the other. He’s scheduled to be fully cleared once the team starts fall practices.

That’s when he’ll get to level up – maybe, just maybe, all the way to an All-American.