Bronny James, the high hopes and the many lows of

• Myron Medcalf, ESPN Staff WriterJan 19, 2024, 08:34 AM ET

  Close

  • Covers college basketball
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2011
  • Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato

TUCSON, Ariz.– Andy Enfield, back in Might, admired all he accomplished as he prepared to coach a USC Trojans group led by leading NBA prospect Isaiah Collier, Bronny James and a fleet of returning veterans during the 2023-24 season.That day, Enfield

based on the back deck of his home, tucked into a glamorous stretch near Manhattan Beach, and looked towards the Pacific Ocean. Then, he paused and took a deep breath.” Yeah, it’s stunning

out here,”he told ESPN.The guy who spent his biggest coaching

years at Florida Gulf Coast(2011-2013)and now lives oceanside in Southern California has definitely picked the right places in his profession. And, because moment, he seemed to recognize the fortuitous course he ‘d taken to reach that point. Getting in the 2023-24 season, it appeared, his team had the tools to make a run at the Pac-12 title.Then it all fell apart.Editor’s Picks 2 Related With his group spiraling after its 82-67 loss at No. 12 Arizona Wildcats on Thursday– USC’s fifth

loss in its

previous seven games– Enfield searched for answers. 3 of his beginners– Boogie Ellis, Joshua Morgan and Collier– have missed out on significant time with injuries. And the scrutiny around James, who completed with 11 points and 6 assists in the loss, has just heightened the responsibilities of his task.” We have actually had some highs and some lows throughout this season, just over midway through the season,”Enfield said.Enfield said he’s never knowledgeable anything like this existing season in his coaching career.James suffered cardiac arrest during a team exercise in July,

endangering more than simply his basketball future, a year after Vincent Iwuchukwu had actually likewise suffered heart attack during a Trojans group workout.With his team shorthanded at the start of this season, Enfield had to customize practices since James and others were not able to get involved. Ellis, Kobe Johnson and DJ Rodman had all wrestled with injuries in November. Iwuchukwu had actually also missed considerable time with a back concern. 2 months later, the injury bug is back for USC(8-10, 2-5 in Pac-12), a team that’s gone from fighting to accomplish its NCAA tournament dreams to fighting to prevent a finish at the bottom of the Pac-12 standings.”Our practices were quite difficult since we only had 7 guys that were healthy [in November],”Enfield stated.” I really offer our team a ton of credit. They have a remarkable attitude.

They practice tough every day. For the a lot of part, we have actually played hard in our games. “The group’s battles have actually been amplified by the spotlight around James, the kid of NBA legend LeBron James, who is averaging 7.0 PPG and connecting on 28%of his shots from beyond the arc.Enfield stated he’s not worried about the freshman’s development

. He said his critics have not acknowledged that James, who played in simply his 10th collegiate game, missed out on all of the preseason buildup to prepare for his very first year of college basketball.

“Gamers go through stretches during seasons where they shoot an extremely high portion and often, it goes the other method where they struggle for a couple of games,”Enfield stated about James.”That holds true for all players and all sports also.

Everybody has their highs and lows throughout the season. He’s enhanced a lot. However he’s only been playing for a month. He works really tough and he’s had truly good practices. “On Wednesday, Arizona fans booed James when he touched the ball. His father told press reporters just recently that his eldest son could have fun with an NBA team right now. However James has shown an absence of assertiveness, at times, and an irregular offending rhythm. Those difficulties aren’t irregular for a freshman. For the child of among the greatest players of perpetuity, nevertheless, it has actually brought more attention to both James and his colleagues. Enfield said, nevertheless, that James has managed his very first season of college basketball with class and maturity.”He’s a typical freshman, where there’s a great deal of enhancement and development that has to be done, “Enfield stated.” He’s done a great job of trying to become a better player and he has actually become a much better player. As we go through the season, we anticipate him

to keep being efficient and assist us. “While obstacles and injuries have actually complicated USC’s season, Enfield said he informed his team that it can’t concentrate on the obstacles. Yes, the group’s concerns are real but they’re likewise not reasons, Enfield said he told his players.” At this level, we don’t make reasons,”

Enfield said.”We need to go out and compete. Whoever is on our roster, whoever is healthy has to go and play as hard as they can. We’re not looking for compassion and all that things about having guys out because nobody really cares.

That’s what we tell them.” 6 months ago, Enfield– who has five NCAA tournament looks at USC– ready for among the most appealing seasons of his training career. He might have never envisioned his team would be in its current situation.Beyond the losses and injuries, he’s likewise a coach who has withstood 2 near-death experiences with members of his team over the previous year. The weight of all of it, he admits, is something he casts aside. There are other things that demand his attention, he said.” This position, often you just ignore yourself, “Enfield stated of the stressors of the season.”It’s everything about other people. You have your players and your coaching staff that you appreciate. Then, you have your own household in your home and everyone else, all the stakeholders around school.””Sometimes, you wake up and you’re not feeling the best or

you’re a little stressed out,”he stated.”Often, you simply require to take a deep breath and unwind and go get a workout in and escape it all, as best you can, for an hour or two because there is not much time in a day that passes where you’re not being drawn in some instructions.”USC plays at Arizona State at 2

p.m. ET on Saturday.