USC may have suffered its third straight Pac-12 Conference loss against Arizona State, but freshman star Brownie James showed encouraging signs in the 82-67 loss. Playing long minutes in Isaiah Collier's absence, James had 11 points, five rebounds and six assists, showing his potential as a future NBA contributor.

James stepped up in Collier's absence

James' role in the offence expanded significantly in Collier's absence. For much of the game, he served as the point guard, initiating the offence and even running the point. Despite a few turnovers, James displayed impressive passing skills and court vision, showing that he can be a major "connector" in the NBA.

Defensive prowess and hustle

James' defence is also noteworthy. He was USC's best point-of-attack defender, effectively containing Arizona's guards and showing good return speed. His aggressive hands, long arms and feet make him very disruptive on the defensive end.

Beyond the Stats

While James' stats are impressive, they don't fully reflect his performance. Several of his turnovers were questionable calls by the referees, and several of his hustle plays went unnoticed. For example, he showed his two-way guard potential when he fought through a blocked shot, contested the shot, and then pushed the ball forward.

Overall, Brownie James' performance against Arizona was a positive step forward. Despite the loss, he showed his ability to contribute on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, giving a glimpse of his future potential as a versatile and impactful NBA player.