College Hoops Report: USD, UCSD welcome revamped rosters for summer workouts

The University of San Diego’s Basketball Performance Center still smelled of fresh paint when coach Steve Lavin’s team held an open scrimmage on Wednesday.

It was a fitting setting for a Toreros roster that will be almost entirely new when the 2025-26 season gets underway this fall.

This year’s roster features 13 newcomers. Only one rotation player returns from last season’s 6-27 team.

Lavin and his staff have used the summer period to figure out what they will be working with when practices begin in October.

“Right now, it’s about gaining a better sense for one another in terms of how to work in concert and also our staff getting a better feel for our personnel,” Lavin said. “That informs how we’re going to position them, deploy them moving forward. Even though you look at synergy and you go back and watch film of them at their prior stops, that’s still different from coming together with a new group of players.

“These eight weeks help with team bonding, conditioning and having the group get a better sense of one another and who we are.”

The summer period consists of limited individual and team on-court time with coaches. There is additional time allotted for monitored strength and conditioning work — and unlimited time for players to work on their own or play pickup games.

A handful of players stood out during Wednesday’s scrimmage.

Among them: Colorado transfer Assane Diop, a 6-foot-8 forward who displayed impressive athleticism, shot-blocking presence and overall offensive skill; NJIT transfer Tim Moore Jr., a 6-6 wing with a nice handle, an accurate looking 3-point stroke and strength on defense; and Georgia State transfer Toneari Lane, a 6-5 guard with a potent 3-point shot and strength to get to the get to the rim and finish against contact.

Additionally, Ball State transfer point guard Juanse Gorosito knocked down several 3-pointers while appearing to be in total control while running the offense. And incoming freshman D’Arrae Goodwin of Wheeling, W.V., showed high energy and impressive offensive and defensive skills on the wing.

In all, it’s an eclectic mix including players who previously played at a total of 20 different schools.

Forward Bradley Ezewiro of Torrance is with his fifth program after previous stops at LSU, Georgetown, Saint Louis and Alabama-Birmingham, a circuitous path that has become increasingly common in the transfer portal era.

“We’ve been jelling pretty good,” said Moore, who averaged 12.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for NJIT last season. “Guys are in every day for workouts. We say it’s about brotherhood. I’m going to work hard for my teammate if he works hard for me. And then, for us older guys, it’s about helping bring the young guys along. We have a lot of people with a lot of different experiences, but I like how we’re coming together.”

The Toreros host Cal State Dominguez Hills and visit San Diego State for exhibition games. They open the season Nov. 4 against Occidental.

USD has also been in talks with USC about a possible visit to the Jenny Craig Pavilion. The Trojans are coached by former Torero guard Eric Musselman.

UCSD summer update

Like Lavin and his staff, first-year UC San Diego coach Clint Allard is taking his summer to evaluate a totally revamped roster.

The Tritons return just one rotation player, Aidan Burke, from a 2024-25 team that went 30-5, won the Big West’s regular-season and conference tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.

The Tritons’ roster now includes eight incoming transfers and two freshmen.

“The turnover isn’t unique for college basketball, but is a bit unique for our program, so it’s definitely been a busy offseason,” said Allard, a UCSD alum who served as lead assistant under Eric Olen for 11 seasons.

“What we were able to accomplish last season has been a real positive. The name recognition has increased. When we talk to potential transfers, recruits or parents, they know who we are. They watched us play. There definitely is more familiarity there. That’s going to help us going forward.”