Good morning! USC men’s hoops will be OOO from Aug 9 - Aug 13th as they take some time to rest, relax, and gel as a team over in the beautiful country of Greece. No need to worry though, you will be able to catch them playing some ball on NBA TV and the NBA App!

What all can you find in today's Brew?

🏈 A True Leader
🏀 Elevated
⚔️ And much, much more!

Stock Up is sponsored by our friends at Cymbiotika, who are changing the health and wellness industry by creating clean, science-backed supplements and products you can comfortably use in everyday life. They only source the highest quality plant-based ingredients so your body absorbs everything it needs and nothing it doesn’t.

All season long receive 15% off on every order with code FIGHTON.

🔼 A True Leader. USC offensive lineman is having quite the preseason so far. Justin Dedich was named to the 2023 Wuerffel Trophy watchlist — an award that is given to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership both on and off the field.

During his time at USC, Dedich has been active within the community by feeding the hungry throughout all of Los Angeles and by spending time with children in the hospital. The offensive lineman was also named to the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Work Team watchlist which goes to show just how special this guy really is.

🔼 Student First. The Women of Troy over in basketball earned a special mention from the WBCA for the team’s combined GPA from the 2022-23 season. USC women’s basketball finished with a 3.25 grade point average, and was named to the Academic Honor Roll.

🔼 Back to the Pitch. Trojan soccer season is just eight days away! The first practices of the season are being held as we type, so get pumped up for the season with this hype video showing why this team has been, and can be, special.

🎥 Trojan soccer is off and running. Who’s on board?

🔼 Elevated. Two new faces of the men’s basketball program will have the chance to elevate this program to new heights this upcoming season. Both Kurt Karis and Desmon Farmer were promoted to assistant coaches earlier this week after the NCAA allowed an increase of two coaches per team.

🏀 Karis is coming off of three seasons as the Director of Scouting, before which he was a graduate assistant. The former USC player was a part of the 2017 and 2018 rosters.

🏀 Farmer has spent the past two seasons as the Director of Scouting for the Trojans. He joins the role as a former player for USC with nine years of experience working with elite young athletes on skill training.

🔼 Fun in the Sun. Our boys are deep on the preseason camp grind preparing for the 2023 college football season. Coach Lincoln Riley is making sure that his team is going to be ready come August 26th.

🔼 Keep Watchin’. Our Trojans over on the gridiron are drawing some serious eyes with all of the watchlists our players have been put on to.

🦵 Eddie Czaplicki was named to the Ray Guy award — an honor that goes to the nation’s top collegiate punter.

💨 Tahj Washington was put on the watchlist for the Paul Hornung award that honors the most versatile player major college football.

Today’s trivia question is brought to you by Smart & Final. With more than 3,000 club-sized items and an assortment of quality, value-priced products, including farm-fresh produce, dairy, deli, meat and seafood, as well as grocery and household essentials. Smart & Final has your every need covered — all without a membership fee!

Been A While. USC baseball, as they say, is back. The Trojans put up some numbers that the program has not seen in a long while, including first place in a variety of season-long statistics.

Our question today — can you name the four categories that the Trojans placed first in the Pac-12 in last season?

Think you got it? Scroll on down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

⚔️ ONE BIG THING

Before her time begins at USC, incoming freshman Juju Watkins picked up one last major award.

She earned USA Today’s 2022-23 Girls Basketball Player of the Year — a national honor where she beat out 25 other nominees. Watkins can add that to her long list of accolades accumulated this year including:

🏀 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year

🏀 2023 Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Trophy

🏀 MaxPreps Player of the Year

🏀 Co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game

…just to name a few.

Watkins will join the Trojans this season coming off of a season that saw her average 27.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. Now you can see why she won all those awards!

📬 STICK WITH US

Did someone send you The Three Torches Brew? Well, the first thing you should do is thank them. The next thing you should do is subscribe here and get it in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning just in time for your first cup of coffee!

📅 LOOKING AHEAD

Thursday 8/17

⚽️ Soccer vs. Michigan @ 3:00pm PT | Purchase Tickets

Friday 8/25

🏐 Volleyball at Houston @ 6:00pm PT | Purchase Tickets

Saturday 8/26

🏈 Football vs. San Jose State @ 5:00pm PT | Purchase Season Tickets Today

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: ERA, Hits per 9 innings, WHIP, and Shutouts!

For the first time since 2001, the Trojans led the Pac-12 in ERA with a 4.39. They also had 8.6 hits per nine innings, a 1.33 WHIP and tossed four shutouts — all first place in the Pac-12 as well. Things are turning around for this program, and we can’t wait to see what’s ahead.

Have a great weekend, everyone!