“Crazy and mine,” that’s how Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl once described Chad Baker-Mazara on national television—a moment that spoke volumes about the bond between coach and player. Mazara had become more than just a scorer; he was the heartbeat of Auburn’s Final Four run, a player who left everything on the court.

Mazara spent the past two seasons at Auburn after opening his college career at Duquesne and San Diego State, serving as a starter on a Tigers squad that had a season of a lifetime. But as his final year of eligibility arrives, he’s made a choice that caught many off guard. It’s not just a new jersey he’ll be wearing—it’s a new chapter, a new challenge, and perhaps, a quiet statement.

Mazara has committed to the USC Trojans, and he will be joining head coach Eric Musselman, according to On3. The small forward will be joining a team that lost the majority of its roster last year, but he will get a chance to headline a top 10 team. Baker-Mazara had actually teased an Auburn return just 10 days before his portal entry with a post on his social media but eventually decided otherwise. Bruce Pearl and Eric Musselman are two of the best coaches in the country and the Trojans coach will now be satisfied as he got one over on his fierce competitor.

“Dreams turned into reality!! Let’s go to work!!” Baker-Mazara posted on his social media in his commitment announcement to USC.

This transfer brings a huge momentum-swinging addition for the Trojans and coach Eric Musselman. It was not looking good as they lost Desmond Claude to the transfer portal, meaning one of their best players won’t be returning.  Alijah Arenas was in a severe car accident, so his future remains up in the air despite exiting his coma. This comes as refreshing news for the fans and the coach.

The Trojans have also acquired the services of Jacob Cofie, who will provide the much-needed physicality to this squad. Rodney Rice will take over the point guard duties and the 7’3 center Gabe Dynes will be looking to develop further. Mazara will add much-needed firepower in the attack and the overall intensity of the game for them, considering his knack for getting important steals.

Why did Chad Baker-Mazara move out of Auburn?

It seemed Mazarra had it all at Auburn, a team to put his all into with a coach willing to go beyond to support him. He was the leader on the court for the Tigers as he led them to a historic final four finish and the best win percentage in the last 65 years for the college. What could possibly be the reason to leave such a project where they could have gone all the way for the next?

Auburn had initially offered him a deal during the season, and everything was set for him to make a return to Auburn for his final hurrah in college ball. However, after they added another forward before the Final Four, Keyshawn Hall from UCF and Baker-Mazara were reportedly upset over the disparity in price. This led to some tension in the dressing room, with him eventually moving out to the Trojans. If money was the question, Trojans were the answer, as even after  their previous additions, they probably have more cash in hand than any other college in the country.

Mazarra will now play the same role at the Trojans, being the leader in the locker room and on the court. Musselman will have to mold his hot-headed personality into something better. His experience in 119 games across four seasons with three different teams in Division I will prove valuable for Musselman, who has a lot of new players up his sleeve. It could be easier to integrate Mazzara since he has been involved in college basketball for so long.