Evaluating Saint Thomas, Desmond Claude, and Mo Njie in a USC-UTSA Exhibition Game

October 22nd, 2024

Saint Thomas is a 6-7 forward that starred at Northern Colorado before transferring to play at USC for the upcoming college basketball season, and he’s drawn some draft buzz as a prospect for the 2025 draft. I decided to watch him play for USC in an October 15th exhibition game against UTSA, with thanks to YouTube via NCAA Remember. He was excellent as a shooter and scorer in this game, and he helped USC get a double-digit win on this day. Here are my thoughts on how he and other top performers fared in this game. Also, for those that are interested in the box score of the game, here is the link, via USC.

USC’s new 6-7 star forward, Saint Thomas scored 21 points on 7 of 8 shooting, made both of his threes, and he also had 6 rebounds and 2 assists to help his team get a 84-63 win over UTSA in an October 15th exhibition game. (Photo: John McGillen/USC Athletics)

Saint Thomas is a mobile, skilled sharpshooting forward that had a tremendous showing to lead USC to get the win. He can score the basketball in a variety of ways, as he especially shot the ball well from the outside, and he also showcased underrated passing skills.

Thomas really excelled as a shooter and scorer when he was on the floor. He was able to make a couple of open spot-up threes off the catch, and he has a quick release and can move off the ball to get open to get the basketball. He also has fairly solid ball-handling skills and footwork, which enabled him to make a tough elbow jumper, and he also scored on another tough, step-back mid-range jumper.

He also showed that he can aptly score off the dribble as well as off of cuts. Thomas also was able to score in the post over a much smaller player. Sometimes he would tend to force the issue seemingly a bit too much, as he would tend to take tough shots, but in this game, Thomas was able to draw foul calls to get to the free throw line.

Also, Thomas showcased satisfactory playmaking skills. He does a good job of finding teammates on the move to set up scores for them, and he was able to throw a pair of crisp, long outlet passes to find them ahead on the break. While he’s not an elite ball handler, he gets to where he needs to go on offense. On one play though, he threw a hasty, inaccurate pass that got intercepted.

Plus, he also did a good job of rebounding the basketball. Although he didn’t really get up very high to get boards, Thomas was able to haul in plenty of defensive boards when he was on the floor. He also played decent defense in this game. Thomas was able to jump on a loose ball that was poked away to him to help his team get a steal. He also was able to leap up to deflect a pass another time. He also would play angles to cut off penetration and would contest shots both out on the perimeter and around the basket to force misses. On the downside, sometimes he would struggle to defend quicker players, which would lead him to commit fouls and allow scores. Another time, he bit wildly on a pump fake, which led him to be out of position and to a teammate to foul an opponent off the dribble.

In general, Thomas is a skilled, sharpshooting forward that showed off a smooth ability to knock down shots from anywhere on the court. He’s not an explosive athlete, but his skills and basketball IQ could enable him to be a solid second round pick in the 2025 draft, and he could end up being a solid role player similar to former Atlanta Hawks’ forward, DeMarre Carroll in the NBA.

USC’s new 6-6 guard, Desmond Claude had a solid showing in his team’s win over UTSA. He is an athletic, physical playmaker that made solid plays on both ends of the floor, and he was aggressive in looking to score and make plays in the second half to help his team get the victory.

Claude showed a satisfactory ability to score off the dribble. He has a strong first step to the hoop, and he can finish plays using either hand to score at the rim. He also can shield the ball away from defenders to score in traffic. He also would take on the contact to frequently get to the free throw line. Sometimes though, he would tend to take tough, off-balanced shots, which would lead to misses when he wouldn’t get foul calls. On the downside, he didn’t shoot well from the outside, but he was able to draw three free throws on a step-back three-pointer once.

He also showcased solid playmaking skills in this game. Claude is an unselfish player that can make an assortment of passes to set up scores for his teammates, and he can also can find teammates on the move. On the downside, sometimes he can be careless on offense, which can lead to turnovers.

While he didn’t get many rebounds in this game, Claude was able to get a pair of defensive boards, and he would push the pace after getting them for his team. He also played solid defense in this game. Claude was able to rotate to block a shot off of a drive out of bounds. He also showed a knack for contesting outside shots to force misses, and he also would get his hands on balls to help his team get steals and deflections. On the downside, sometimes he would struggle to defend opposing ball handlers, especially when defending quick dribble moves.

In summary, Claude played well to help his team get a double-digit win over UTSA. He is a strong, physical guard that can make plays on both ends of the floor. He’ll need to improve his jump shot, but he is a strong playmaker that could end up being a second round pick in the 2025 draft.

UTSA’s new 6-11 center, Mo Njie turned in a strong performance in his team’s tough loss to USC. He is a strong, mobile big man that showed off a variety of scoring skills, and he is a shot blocker that can provide solid rim protection for his team on the defensive end.

Njie was able to make a smooth, open spot-up three off of a pick-and-pop play. He also excelled at scoring on hustle plays. He was able to score on a quick put back, and he also ran the floor to score on the break while getting fouled. Plus, he can also score on one-on-one isolation plays. Njie utilized a pump fake to drive to the hoop to draw free throws on a thunderous dunk attempt. He also posted up and lowered his shoulder to score around the basket.

On the downside, he was a bit turnover prone, and he was a bit too passive at times on the offensive end. For the positives, Njie would set screens to help his teammates get open driving lanes and jump shots to set up scores for them. On the downside, he threw a rushed pass that sailed out of bounds. He also got tied up when looking to score off of a roll to the rim that led to another turnover.

Also, Njie did a good job of rebounding the basketball. He was able to leap up to get boards on both ends of the floor. However, there was one play where he was called for an over the back foul when going for an offensive board once.

He also played satisfactory defense in this game. Njie did a good job of blocking shots to help his team protect the paint, and he also was able to defend an opponent on a high post drive and stay with him to do so. He also showed that he can contest shots both out on the perimeter and in the paint to get stops for his team. On the downside, sometimes he would give up too much space to shooters, which would allow them to score on three-point shots. Other times, he would play too aggressively, which would lead him to pick up fouls.

Overall, Mo Njie played very well in this game, and he is an athletic, skilled big man that could be due for a breakout season at UTSA this year. He’ll need to put together a strong season this year, but if so, he could end up being a potential second round pick in the 2025 draft, as he could project to be a solid rotational big man in the NBA.

UTSA’s new 6-6 swingman, Damari Monsanto also had a solid showing in his team’s tough loss to USC. He is a mobile, skilled sharpshooter that shot the ball really well in the first half, and he has the skills to be a 3 and D role player in the NBA.

Monsanto showed off a solid outside shot in this game. Monsanto showed that he can ably knock down threes both off the catch and dribble. He was able to run off a ball screen to make a quick three. He also made a very deep three while getting fouled another time. Plus, he also pulled up to make a deep three from way out. On the downside, he was streaky with his jump shot in the second half, but overall, Monsanto showed off an impressive ability to knock down three-pointers from beyond the arc.

He also passed the ball fairly well, as he displayed fairly solid playmaking skills. While he didn’t look to pass often, he was able to make a drive and dish in transition to notch an assist, and he was able to get the ball to open teammates to get them the basketball.

Though he didn’t grab many rebounds in this game, Monsanto was able to get a pair of defensive boards for his team. He also showcased satisfactory defensive skills. Monsanto was able to jump on a loose ball to help his team get a steal, and he also would get his hands on balls to get deflections. On the downside, sometimes he wouldn’t quite be in position when rotating to contest shots off the dribble, which would lead him to commit fouls.

Overall, Damari Monsanto played well in his team’s loss to USC, and he looks to be UTSA’s best shooter and potentially their best scorer for the upcoming season. He showed that he can make an impressive array of threes and outside shots, and he could end up being a solid shooting specialist at the NBA level.

USC’s new 6-6 forward, Matt Knowling played very well on both ends of the floor to help his team get a double-digit win over UTSA. Though he’s not really a three-point shooter, he excelled at doing everything else to help his team get the victory.

Knowling was very efficient as a scorer on offense. Though he didn’t take many shots, he made all of the field goals he took on offense. He would run the floor to score on fast breaks, and he was able to utilize a smooth Euro-step to score late in this game. Plus, he also can ably score in one-on-one situations. He also used a pivot move to score on a smooth jump hook out of the post. Plus, he also drove patiently to the hoop to score another time.

He also showed off good playmaking skills. Knowling is a skilled passer that can make an assortment of passes, as he can do so off the dribble and find teammates on the move to rack up assists. He’s like an off-ball, point forward due to possessing strong court vision. On one play though, he threw an inaccurate pass back that got intercepted. He also was called for basket interference when attempting to go in for a tip slam early on.

Plus, he also did a great job of rebounding the basketball. Knowling was able to haul in boards on both ends of the floor, and he would tend to push the pace quickly off of defensive boards. He also defended well. Knowling would consistently contest threes to force misses, and he was able to deflect a pass to a teammate to help his team get a steal.

Overall, Matt Knowling is a smart, energetic playmaker that excelled at making plays on both ends of the floor. He showed a knack for playing sound basketball. He’ll need to extend his shooting range and improve his outside shot, but regardless, he is a skilled, experienced forward that could either make it to the NBA someday, or will at least be able to carve out a solid playing career in professional basketball.

UTSA’s 6-6 swingman, Raekwon Horton had his ups and downs in his team’s loss to USC. Horton is an athletic, energetic player that can ably create his own shot and make hustle plays on both ends of the floor, but he didn’t shoot the ball quite as well as hoped or very much in this game.

Horton showed a strong ability to score off the dribble. He has solid balance and body control to be able to finish plays in traffic. He also managed to dribble quickly off of a quick cut to score another time. On the downside, he didn’t shoot well from the outside, and he didn’t take many shots in this game.

He also showcased fairly average playmaking skills. Horton was able to find the open man to notch an assist, and he also can pass out of the post. However, sometimes he would be careless with the ball, which would lead him to commit turnovers, and he didn’t always throw accurate passes to his teammates.

Horton was able to leap up to get his fair share of boards, and he was especially active at crashing the offensive glass to get offensive rebounds. He also was able to rip a ball away from an opponent’s hands to get a defensive boards due to possessing strong hands. Also, Horton played adequate defense in this game. He would get his hands on passes to get steals, and he also poked a ball away to nearly get another. Horton also would contest threes to force misses. On the downside, he would struggle to defend quicker players off the dribble and on off cuts, which would lead his team to commit fouls and allow scores.

Overall, Raekwon Horton didn’t have his best game, but he is an athletic swingman that has projectable upside as a potential 3 and D role player for the NBA level. He’ll need to improve his jump shot considerably and he’ll need to be more assertive on offense, but if he can spend time to hone his game in the G-League and/or overseas in his post-collegiate years, he could end up competing for a roster spot in the NBA sometime down the road.

USC’s 6-10 center, Josh Cohen quietly had a solid showing to help his team get an exhibition win over UTSA. He showed a knack for scoring around the basket, and he also defended well in this game. While he’s not overly explosive, he tended to make sound plays on both ends of the floor.

Cohen showed a solid ability to score out of the post. He can get deep position and has a solid set of moves, which enabled him to score on turnaround jump hooks. He also was able to score on a tough roll to the rim in traffic. Plus, he also managed to drive patiently to the hoop to score on a dunk. He missed an open mid-range jumper, but Cohen generally showed solid shooting touch and some mobility on the offensive end.

He also showcased decent playmaking skills. Cohen generally passed the ball well, and he also showed that he can ably pass out of the post. He also managed to set an on-ball screen to help his teammate get an open driving lane to score another time.

Also, Cohen was able to get his fair share of boards when he was on the floor. Plus, he also defended very well in this game. Cohen would rotate to block and alter shots off the dribble to help his team get stops. He also would use his length to intercept and deflect passes to get steals and deflections. His long, wide frame also would enable him to ably defend opponents off the dribble. He also managed to tie up an opposing ball handler on a roll to the rim to force a turnover late in this game. On the downside, sometimes he would be late on his rotations and would give up too much space to his opponents, which would lead his team to allow opponents to score on outside shots.

Overall, Josh Cohen is a skilled big man that played very well on both ends of the floor. He may not be a high-upside prospect, but he is a solid interior player at the collegiate level, and if he can develop a reliable outside shot, that could enable him to make it to the NBA as a backend roster player at that level.

USC’s 6-8 freshman swingman, Jalen Shelley also quietly played well to help his team get an exhibition game win over UTSA. He is a solid outside shooter that played satisfactory defense in this game, and he could project into an athletic, 3 and D role player at the NBA level. Shelley ran off the ball to get it on a dribble handoff, which enabled him to make a quick baseline mid-range jumper. He also made a wide-open three off of a pick-and-pop play.

He also showcased fairly average playmaking skills. Shelley was able to throw an accurate outlet pass. However, he mishandled the ball and lost it on a drive to commit a turnover. Though he didn’t grab many rebounds, Shelley was able to leap up to get a defensive board once. He also played decent defense in this game. Shelley was able to get his hands on passes to get steals and deflections. He also would contest threes to force misses. However, he also struggled to defend quicker players off the dribble, which would lead him to allow scores.

Overall, Shelley made solid plays on both ends of the floor, and he is a promising prospect that may possess considerable upside as a 3 and D prospect for the NBA level, and he is a long, athletic swingman that could end up making his way to the NBA sometime in the future.

USC’s 6-4 redshirt freshman guard, Wesley Yates III showed off some intriguing shooting and scoring skills in the limited minutes he played in this game. Though he didn’t have a great game nor shoot particularly well, Yates was able to pull up to make a smooth, pull-up three to showcase his ability to make shots both off the dribble and from downtown.

He also showcased fairly average playmaking skills. In this game, he was able to make a drive and kick pass to find an open shooter. However, he also threw a hasty pass that got deflected and intercepted another time. Yates showed off a satisfactory ability to rebound the basketball, and he was able to leap up to get a defensive board in limited minutes. On the defensive end, he was tasked to defend a bigger player in the post, but he got outmuscled to give up the basket. Overall, Yates is an agile, skilled shot maker that could project to be an instant offense type of role player off the bench at the NBA level, and if he can put up big numbers at the collegiate level a few years from now, he could be on track to land that projection sometime down the road.

UTSA’s 5-9 point guard, Marcus Millender also had a decent showing in his team’s loss to USC. Though he’s very undersized for his position, he is an athletic, energetic playmaker that can score and pass the basketball. He showed a knack for making smooth, pull-up mid-range jumpers off the dribble. He also was able to split a double team to score on a quick, stunning, running layup. On the downside, Millender missed all of his three-point attempts, and he tended to take tough, rushed shots both inside and out that would lead to misses.

He also showcased solid playmaking skills. Millender is an unselfish player that can make accurate passes off the dribble and in transition to set up plenty of scoring chances for his teammates. Though he didn’t grab many rebounds, Millender was able to get a defensive board and push the ball up the court afterwards. He also played adequate defense in this game. Millender was able to rotate to poke a ball away to a teammate to get a steal, and he also showed a knack to deflect passes. He also can stay with opposing ball handlers and contest shots to force misses. On the downside, he would sometimes get beat off the dribble, which would lead him to allow scores. Another time, he was called for a reach-in foul due to over-aggressiveness. He also was too small to defend a taller player in the post, and it led his teammate to rotate to commit a foul that time.

Overall, Millender is a speedy, energetic point guard that can score and make plays off the dribble. While he didn’t shoot well in this game, he shot the three-ball well at South Alabama as a freshman. On the downside, his lack of size would make it difficult for him to ably guard taller players at the next level. If he can show that he can be at least a passable defender at the next level, and if he can prove to be a solid outside shooter at higher levels, Millender could project to be a solid rotational point guard in the NBA sometime down the road. If not, he could still carve out a solid playing career in professional basketball either in the G-League or overseas.

All in all, those are my thoughts on how Saint Thomas and other various prospects fared in this game. Thanks for reading.