Musselman lands 6-11 Ratliff twins for Class of 2026

This article was originally written for the Daily Trojan, published Nov. 14, 2025.

Four-star recruits Adonis and Darius Ratliff are the Trojans’ first 2026 signees.

Head Coach Eric Musselman said the Ratliff twins have been “well-coached their entire lives,” thanks to their father, Theo Ratliff, who Musselman coached when he was with the Atlanta Hawks in the early 2000s. (Mathew Diederich / Daily Trojan)

USC men’s basketball officially secured its first two signees of the 2026 recruiting class, as four-star twins Adonis and Darius Ratliff officially committed to the Trojans, Head Coach Eric Musselman announced Thursday. The additions vaulted USC to No. 8 in the Rivals Industry Basketball Recruiting Rankings with about a week left in the Division I Basketball early signing period.

The 6-foot-11 brothers, both top-60 national prospects from Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York, chose the Trojans over Alabama, Arkansas and Texas after narrowing their lists earlier this fall and verbally committing to USC in late October. Their signing marks the next step in a recruitment that has been tied closely to family history: Musselman coached their father, former NBA All-Star Theo Ratliff, during his time as an assistant with the Atlanta Hawks. 

“Darius and Adonis have been well-coached their entire lives and have had an illustrious high school career,” Musselman said in a news release announcing the commitments Thursday. “I had the pleasure of coaching their father, Theo, when he was a player for the Atlanta Hawks.”

Both Ratliffs are Naismith Trophy Boys High School Player of the Year Watch List selections and competed at the USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp last year, further raising their profiles as two of the most versatile frontcourt players in their class. 

Adonis Ratliff, ranked No. 51 nationally and one of the top power forwards in the 2026 class, averaged 12.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game en route to Stepinac’s third straight title in the competitive, 31-team New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association last season. Musselman praised his offensive range and adaptability, calling him “an extremely unique player with his versatility on both ends of the floor.” 

“Adonis is an excellent three-level scorer and does a great job as a two-way rebounder,” Musselman said in the release. “Adonis has incredible 3-point range, being able to shoot at a high rate with his size.” 

Darius Ratliff, ranked No. 42 nationally and the No. 4 center in the class, averaged 9.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks last season. His combination of mobility and interior defense has drawn attention from scouts, who view him as one of the most modern bigs in the class. 

“Darius has an incredible basketball IQ and great versatility, being able to play both inside and outside,” Musselman said in the release. “Darius is an excellent range rebounder and does a phenomenal job of affecting shots at the rim with his length.”

During their commitment announcement last month, the twins emphasized USC’s communication and system fit as reasons for their decision.

“It felt like they wanted us most out of all the schools,” Adonis Ratliff said during a livestream on CBS. “[They] kept in contact every day … and we just felt the love.”

The Ratliffs are USC’s only signees so far for 2026, but they join a roster that could return several star contributors — including five-star freshman guard Alijah Arenas, whose development is viewed as central to Musselman’s long-term rebuild should he stay at USC next year. The brothers’ signings represent another early swing of momentum as the Trojans attempt to reestablish themselves following several losing seasons.