Jordan McLaughlin

Classroom

Jordan McLaughlin graduated in three years with a degree in sociology and is now in a master’s program in communications management. He has been selected as a USC student-athlete of the month several times and has used his leadership skills to help the men’s basketball program set its fall, spring and summer GPA records during his tenure.

Character

McLaughlin is serving his third season as a USC team captain. He had his freshman season cut short due to a shoulder injury after 22 games, but he was still named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team and was given the Ryan Francis Award after the season as the best example of being a Trojan.

He came to USC having had shoulder surgery after his high school career, first playing through it to help his team advance in the CIF state tournament. He had both shoulders operated on and returned the next season without missing a beat. He was named All-Conference honorable mention and starting all 34 games. He broke his nose in a game early in the season and continued to play by wearing a mask for five games. He was named USC’s top defensive player following the season. As a junior, he again was named All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and led team to NCAA Tournament and a school record in wins. He was named USC’s most inspirational player. McLaughlin twice was selected to represent USC at Pac-12 Media Day and serves as USC’s main player spokesman, especially when difficult issues arise.

Community

McLaughlin has been involved with most of the USC men’s basketball charitable activities since he has arrived, including the Friends of Jaclyn Program two years ago in which the Trojans adopted a child, Cale Smith, dealing with a rare form of cancer. On his own, McLaughlin has kept in touch with Cale. He is scheduled to take part in the Light the Night Walk, the NABC Stay to Win Program and USC men’s basketball’s Special Olympics clinic in the spring. He also wrapped presents on Dec. 9 as part of a USC gift-giving program for underserved youth and took part in the Swim with Mike annual event this past summer, an event for physically challenged athletes.

Competition

McLaughlin has averaged 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists through his first three seasons. As of nomination time, he ranked second on USC’s all-time assist list (457), eighth in steals (141) and 22nd in scoring (1,188). This season he is one of 20 players named to the Bob Cousy Award watch list as the nation’s top point guard. This season was named as the No. 56 college player on NBSSports.com. 

Last season, he was the only men’s NCAA player to have at least three assists in each of his team’s games. He was the first building block brought in by Andy Enfield to rebuild the USC program which has now been to consecutive NCAA Tournaments, last year won two tournament games for the first time since 2007 and set the school wins record. Last season he was named Pac-12 Player of the Week twice, the first Trojan to be honored twice in a season since 1992. After the 2016 season he was named to the Pac-12 All-Star Team which traveled to Australia. He was named the MVP of the 2016 Las Vegas Classic, leading the Trojans to a 94-92 overtime win with a driving basket.