Drew Peterson withdraws from NBA Draft, returning to USC next season

Senior guard Drew Peterson is returning to USC for his final season of eligibility, according to Jon Rothstien. Peterson, a senior, previously opted to test his chances in the NBA Draft, but never signed with an agent and is set to return to college for a fifth and final year.

Peterson finished ranked third on the team in scoring last season, with 12.4 points per game. His 6.2 rebounds per game were good for third as well and he led the Trojans with 113 assists. Despite this, he also led USC with 81 turnovers last season.

In his most memorable performance from last season, Peterson willed USC past rival UCLA, scoring 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting, 12 rebounds, five blocks and four assists. He also scored eight points in the final 35 seconds of the Trojans’ NCAA Tournament loss to Miami, missing the game-winning shot at the buzzer.

Isaiah Mobley to stay in 2022 NBA Draft, Boogie Ellis to return to USC

Isaiah Mobley is staying in the draft and Boogie Ellis is preparing to withdraw and return to the Trojans next season, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. Those are two huge decisions as USC gets ready for the 2022-23 season.

Mobley’s name didn’t appear in any mock drafts from ESPN, USA Today or CBS Sports after the NBA Draft lottery, but that could change as players decide to stay in the draft or return to college. It’s his second time testing the draft waters after doing the same last year before returning to USC.

Last year as a junior, Mobley averaged 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds on 44.5% shooting from the field. He helped the Trojans to a 26-8 overall record, including 14-6 record in Pac-12 play. Out of high school, he was a five-star recruit and the nation’s No. 17 player from the Class of 2019, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.