USC's Ratliff Twins Bring Size, Skill and Sibling Rivalry to Trojans

Adonis and Darius Ratliff, 7-foot freshmen, hope to lead USC men's basketball back to the NCAA Tournament

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:26pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the Ratliff twins in action on a basketball court, with their figures broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, capturing the energy and dynamism of their play.The Ratliff twins' versatility and complementary skills could make USC a formidable force in the upcoming college basketball season.White Plains Today

USC men's basketball is set to welcome a pair of highly touted 7-foot twin freshmen, Adonis and Darius Ratliff, who bring a unique combination of size, skill, and sibling rivalry to the Trojans. The twins, from White Plains, New York, are expected to make an immediate impact as they aim to help revive the program and return it to the NCAA Tournament after three straight missed appearances.

Why it matters

The addition of the Ratliff twins, along with fellow McDonald's All-American Christian Collins, gives USC a formidable frontcourt that can stretch the floor with their outside shooting ability. Their versatility and complementary skills could make the Trojans a tough matchup for opponents in the upcoming season.

The details

Adonis Ratliff is known for his perimeter game and has been encouraged by head coach Eric Musselman to break the single-season USC 3-point record. Meanwhile, Darius Ratliff excels as a rebounder, shot-blocker, and defender who can also step out and hit shots. The twins' differing styles and competitive nature are expected to create an exciting dynamic on the court.

  • The Ratliff twins will make their collegiate debuts for USC in the 2026-27 season.
  • The Trojans are coming off three consecutive seasons of missing the NCAA Tournament.

The players

Adonis Ratliff

A 7-foot freshman who is known for his perimeter game and 3-point shooting ability. Musselman has encouraged him to break USC's single-season 3-point record.

Darius Ratliff

Adonis' twin brother, also a 7-foot freshman, who excels as a rebounder, shot-blocker, and defender while also being able to hit outside shots.

Christian Collins

A fellow McDonald's All-American and versatile 6-foot-8 forward who will join the Ratliff twins in USC's incoming freshman class.

Eric Musselman

The head coach of the USC men's basketball team, who previously coached the twins' father, Theo Ratliff, as an assistant with the Atlanta Hawks.

Theo Ratliff

The father of Adonis and Darius Ratliff, a former NBA All-Star center and power forward who led the league in blocks three times during his career.

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What they’re saying

“Coach Muss [Eric Musselman] told me he wanted me to break the single-season USC 3-point record, so based off that I just knew how much confidence he had in me.”

— Adonis Ratliff, USC Freshman

“Definitely changing the narrative. We want to bring USC basketball back.”

— Adonis Ratliff, USC Freshman

“I'm more of a wing and I can bring the ball up, come off the pick and roll, make decisions and guard the smaller guys on the court, too. [Darius] is a very good rebounder, he blocks shots, can defend at a high level and can also come out and hit shots.”

— Adonis Ratliff, USC Freshman

“He told us he could make us into pros, and he could put us in the right positions for us to succeed. He also told us he knew how to make it easier for both of us to play together on the court and how we could thrive and play off each other.”

— Adonis Ratliff, USC Freshman

“I feel like it's the reason that we got recruited so high and the upside that I have, because nowadays there's a lot of bigs who can shoot, but there's not a lot of bigs that can come and shoot with efficiency and then bring the 5 out and stay in help side to get the guards to work the big.”

— Darius Ratliff, USC Freshman

What’s next

The Ratliff twins and the rest of USC's highly touted incoming freshman class will look to make an immediate impact when they take the court for the Trojans in the 2026-27 season, as the team aims to end its NCAA Tournament drought.

The takeaway

The addition of the Ratliff twins, along with fellow McDonald's All-American Christian Collins, gives USC a formidable frontcourt that can stretch the floor and create matchup problems for opponents. Their unique blend of size, skill, and sibling rivalry could be the key to reviving the Trojans' basketball program and returning it to the NCAA Tournament.