USC Secures Ratliff Twins, Citing Coach Musselman’s Past Ties

USC men’s basketball added twin four-star recruits Adonis and Darius Ratliff to its roster for the current season. Both brothers cited a personal connection to head coach Eric Musselman as a decisive factor in choosing the Trojans. The twins noted that USC’s staff continued to support Darius during a lower-body injury he sustained early in his senior year of high school, emphasizing the program’s ongoing involvement throughout his recovery.

Newsweek

Theo Ratliff, the twins’ father, was a first-round NBA draft pick of the Detroit Pistons in 1995 and later became a 2001 NBA All-Star. During the 2001-02 season, Eric Musselman served as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks under head coach Lon Kruger, where he coached Theo Ratliff in the NBA. The familiarity between Musselman and the Ratliff family, established through that professional relationship, was highlighted by the twins as a key element in their recruitment decision.

Newsweek

USC athletics officials indicated that the coaching staff “showed love” and maintained consistent communication with the twins throughout the recruitment process. The program’s representatives also affirmed that they provided medical and logistical support to Darius Ratliff after his injury, reinforcing the university’s commitment to player welfare during the transition to collegiate basketball.

Newsweek

• “USC made me feel like this was the right option for the next step in my basketball career. Head Coach Eric Musselman coached my dad, Theo Ratliff, in the NBA, and the staff showed me all the love,” — Darius Ratliff

Newsweek

• “He (Theo Ratliff) just preached to me to pay attention to the schools that only love you when you're up, but not when you're down. And I felt USC was just always in my ear. Even when I got hurt, USC made sure I was good,” — Darius Ratliff

Newsweek