J.T. Terrell ready for (another) new coach

SAN FRANCISCO – Jeff Bzdelik. Lance Von Vogt. Kevin O’Neill. Bob Cantu. Andy Enfield.

Those are the names of five current or former head basketball coaches… all of whom for which USC guard J.T. Terrell has played.

It has been a dizzying collegiate career for Terrell, who started out at Wake Forest and transferred to Peninsula College (Port Angeles, Wash.) after some off-the-court troubles before finally landing in Southern California. There have been a lot of twists and turns in Terrell’s wild ride, but 2013-14 is shaping up to be a good one for USC’s leading returning scorer.

Yes – returning, for once.

“My attitude has matured tremendously,” Terrell said, reflecting upon his winding road. “My game has matured on both ends of the court.”

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Having learned to play within the framework of a team, Terrell is now a leader on a squad that features four new transfers (players to which Terrell can easily relate) and six incoming freshmen.

“We’re doing a lot of learning and stuff right now. The freshmen might not catch on as quick, so I help coach,” Terrell said. “When somebody is not getting something, I might go whisper in their ear or give you some things I would do in that situation; just passing down knowledge.”

That doesn’t mean things aren’t new for Terrell, though. After all, he is playing for a new head coach in Andy Enfield. By now, however, that’s just par for the course and so far, Terrell likes what he sees in Enfield.

“[Enfield’s system] fits me great, actually. Up-tempo, being able to play freely, being able to make plays,” he said. “He’s not the type of coach who will pull you out for a missed shot or a turnover or something like that. He lets you play through.”

Sounds like the major thing Terrell needs to work on now is his ping-pong game. When asked by a Pac-12 staffer if he was in line to challenge Johnathan Loyd, the North Carolina native seemed a little less confident in his table tennis abilities than his basketball skills. 

"No sir, I'm not about to get beat like that," Terrell said.