February 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans forward Chad Baker-Mazara (4) reacts after making a 3-pointer in the first half against the Oregon Ducks at the Gallen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Southern California’s leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara is no longer a member of the program, the university said in a statement Sunday.
The announcement comes with two games remaining in the regular season before USC heads to Chicago for the Big Ten Tournament. The Trojans have lost five straight.
The Trojans did not give a reason for Baker-Mazara’s departure. In Saturday’s loss at home to No. 12 Nebraska, the graduate transfer was seen sitting baseline courtside with fans in the second half rather than sitting on the bench with his teammates.
Although NCAA eligibility rules continue to be challenged at various levels of the court system, Baker-Mazara’s 145-game college career is likely over.
Baker-Mazara, 26, played for five college programs in six seasons, including in junior college. After spending one season each at Duquesne and San Diego State, he spent 2022-23 at Northwest Florida State College.
His best years came at Auburn, where he averaged 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 73 games (43 starts). He was ejected from a 2024 NCAA Tournament round of 64 game against Yale, receiving two serious fouls for throwing an elbow at an opponent. Yale went on to upset the fourth-seeded Tigers.
But Baker-Mazara helped the Tigers spend most of the 2024-25 season as the No. 1 team in the country and advance to the Final Four, where they lost to SEC opponent and eventual national champion Florida.
At USC, Baker-Mazara played in 26 games, starting 22, averaging 18.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists, all career highs.
–Field level media
