After a tumultuous freshman season, Bronny James is still looking to head to the big leagues.

The much-hyped USC freshman and son of NBA legend LeBron James announced he is entering the 2024 NBA Draft while still maintaining his college eligibility.

On Friday, he announced the news via Instagram, thanking USC, family, and trainers for their support.

“I’ve had a year with some ups and downs but all added to growth for me as a man, student and athlete,” Bronny wrote. Later in the post, he added, “Thank you to USC for an amazing Freshman year, and as always thankful for my family, doctors, athletic trainers and fans for their support.”

Bronny’s freshman season will always have an asterisk attached to it.

Last July, he suffered a cardiac arrest episode that resulted from a previously undiagnosed congenital heart defect. After surgery to treat the defect, Bronny was unable to play for five months, delaying the start of his college career and likely derailing his development.

There was much hype when he made his first collegiate appearance for USC on Dec. 10, a home game against Long Beach State. However, the Trojans were upset 84-79 in overtime, and it was a sign of things to come for Bronny and his team. USC ultimately failed to return to the NCAA Tournament, finishing 15-18. Bronny averaged a mere 4.8 points per game, 2.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 19 minutes to cap an unfortunate start to his post-high school career.

By keeping his college eligibility, James is preparing to hear what NBA scouts say about his draft status before deciding whether to play another year at another school. Of course, given the connection and the basketball world’s desire to see a father-son tandem come to fruition, Bronny could play with his father on the Lakers or elsewhere.

However, should Bronny remain in college, some compelling options exist for the potential rising sophomore. SMU hired former USC coach Andy Enfeld last week, which would make for an easier transition should James choose to play there. Ohio State has to be considered a possibility due to LeBron’s support of the connection between school and childhood in the state of Ohio. For several reasons, Duquesne could be a perfect landing spot for Bronny. The team’s new coach, Dru Joyce III, is a lifelong friend of LeBron, and Duquesne’s status as a mid-major school can give Bronny a chance to prove himself as a leader and a top scorer.

Whatever path Bronny chooses for the foreseeable future, the basketball world will surely take notice.

Nearly five months after he suffered a cardiac arrest, LeBron James’ son, Bronny James, has made his college basketball debut with USC.

During the 16 minutes he played coming off the bench, Bronny had four points, three rebounds and two assists on Sunday during the Trojans’ 84-79 overtime loss to Long Beach State. 

“I just want to say I’m thankful for everything,” Bronny said about his debut.

Later, he thanked the Mayo Clinic as well as his family and his friends for helping him during his recovery from the heart attack. 

Bronny did not take any questions from reporters.

USC’s coach, Andy Enfield, praised Bronny’s performance.

“I thought he was very solid,” he said. “Bronny handles the spotlight extremely well. He’s a passionate young man about playing basketball.”

Bronny was a four-star prospect out of high school and later committed to USC.

Before suffering a cardiac arrest, he was considered a first-round pick. His debut also drew in a large crowd, with the Trojans reported to have 9,806 attendees appear at the game. His father also appeared at the game to support his son. 

Chima Moneke recorded 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead UC Davis to a 67-63 victory over the North Carolina Central Eagles at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio on Wednesday night in the Aggies’ first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

UC Davis Beats North Carolina Central in NCAA First Four

The 16th-seeded Aggies (23-12) will next face No. 1 seed Kansas in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Friday.

Brynton Lemar scored 15 points and Lawrence White added 14 for UC Davis, which reached the NCAA Tournament by winning the Big West Conference tournament. Moneke had two rim-shaking dunks in the first half.

The Aggies won despite 18 turnovers that led to 20 points for the Eagles.

North Carolina Central, which shot poorly throughout the night and particularly during the second half, trailed by just one point, 64-63, with 1:49 remaining in the game on a 3-pointer from Dajuan Graf. The Eagles retrieved the ball with 37 seconds left, but Graf missed his second three-point attempt. Graf’s foul on Lawrence White then led to two free-throws with 16 seconds remaining, and then Lemar scored a foul shot with four second remaining to seal the win.

Graf led the Eagles (25-9) with 15 points, 12 of which came in the first half. Kyle Benton and Patrick Cole added 13 points apiece.

North Carolina Central went on a 16-3 run toward the end of the first half and led 34-31 at the break. UC Davis led by as many as nine points in the first half.

In Wednesday night’s other First Four matchup, the Southern California Trojans rallied from a 17-point deficit in the second half to defeat the Providence Friars 75-71.

Bennie Boatwright led the Trojans with a career-high 24 points.

“It does feel good getting payback from last year, because that was a tough loss,” Boatwright said.

No. 11 seed USC will next face No. 6 seed SMU in Tulsa on Friday. Southern Cal is 5-1 all-time against SMU.

After Providence (20-13) led by 15 points at halftime and then got ahead by 17 to start the second half, USC (25-9) jumped to a huge rally, and trimmed their deficit to five points at the 10-minute mark, and led 61-60 on a jumper by Chimezie Metu off a turnover with 6:46 remaining.

“I think we just got out-toughed in the second half,” Providence guard Jalen Lindsey said. “We weren’t playing with the same passion we were in the first half, and it showed. And they executed their game plan and we kind of faltered back.”

Emmitt Holt led the Friars with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Lindsey and Rodney Bullock added 17 each.

“I thought we got lazy defensively in the second half, and I was really shocked at that given the time and score of this game,” Providence coach Ed Cooley said.

Penn Sate offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead helped the Nittany Lions create major touchdowns during the second half of his team’s 52-49 loss to the USC Trojans in Monday’s Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and Penn State coach James Franklin made sure to let him know how happy this made him.

Watch: Penn State’s James Franklin Jokingly Punches OC After Chris goodwin’s 72-Yard TD In Rose Bowl vs USC

On the Nittany Lions’ first play of the second half, Saquon Barkley ran for a 79-yard touchdown. On their second play, Trace McSorley found Chris Godwin for a 72-yard touchdown, and at that point, the Penn State bench was going wild.

Here is how Franklin celebrated the huge score:

USC kicker Matt Boermeester scored a game-winning 46-yard field goal as time expired– after two missed attempts– to lead the Trojans to the victory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WphtnDo0VVE

Penn State initially erased a 27-14 first-half deficit to gain a comfortable 49-35 second-half advantage. Then came USC’s turn. Although they lost one of their top players, defensive back Adoree’ Jackson, to an ankle injury and their leading tackler Cam Smith to a targeting ejection, the Trojans didn’t give up.

USC forced a Nittany Lions punt and got the ball back with a minute and 59 seconds remaining, although even then, trailing 49-42, the Trojans needed to gain 80 yards just to tie the game.

USC’s freshman quarterback Sam Darnold ultimately helped save his team from defeat. He was named the Trojans’ starting quarterback after USC got off to a 1-2 start, and his MVP performance on Monday demonstrated why.

Helped by a pair of Nittany Lions defensive pass interference penalties, Darnold led the Trojans on a three-play, 80-yard touchdown drive capped by a 27-yard strike to sophomore Deontay Burnett that tied it up 49-all.

Then, USC safety Leon McQuay intercepted McSorley on the following drive and returned it 32 yards to the Nittany Lions 33-yard line to give USC a chance to win it in regulation.

Darnold, who grew up in Southern California dreaming about playing in this game, finished 33-of-53 passing for 453 yards with five touchdowns for a very memorable outing.

Burnett recorded a career-high 13 catches for 164 yards and three touchdowns to help overshadow Penn State’s excellent second half.

PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Wide receiver Deontay Burnett #80 of the USC Trojans attempts to make a reception against cornerback Jordan Smith #12 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in the fourth quarter of the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

USC Trojans coach Clay Helton announced on Sunday that sophomore cornerback Adoree’ Jackson will be exempt from spring practice so that he may focus on qualifying for the Summer 2016 Rio Olympics in the long jump.

Adoree’ Jackson Preps For Rio Olympics

Jackson previously won the Pac-12 Conference long-jump title with a mark of 25 feet, 3 inches as a freshman despite only being a part-time member of USC’s track and field team. He also finished fifth at the NCAA championships after leaping 25-11.

Jackson’s dream is to win an NCAA title and then qualify for the Rio Olympics in August. “If it was up to me — where my heart is — I would want to go out there,” Jackson told the Los Angeles Times about forgoing spring football practice for track. “I’ll just see what’s best overall for me and for the team.”

When Helton recruited Jackson, he promised Jackson the opportunity to focus on track during the spring, and Helton plans to keep that promise.

The 5-11 Jackson will need to improve his record by approximately six inches in order to meet the minimum qualifying standard of 26 feet, 5 inches for the 2016 Olympic trials in July. He’ll also need to qualify in the top three at the trials to make Team USA.

This season, Jackson had 31 tackles and an interception for a touchdown on defense, while totaling four TDs on offense and special teams.

Jackson will begin his training for Rio and the long jump following the Trojans’ final game of the season against the Wisconsin Badgers (No. 23) in the Holiday Bowl  in San Diego on December 30.

PHOTO: LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 07: Adoree’ Jackson #2 of the USC Trojans runs after his catch for a first down during the first quarter against the Arizona Wildcats at Los Angeles Coliseum on November 7, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)