LOS ANGELES_When Elijah Stewart showed up at USC as a freshman two years ago, he didn't know where he could go for advice. Everyone, it seemed, was young. Everyone was learning a new system.
"No one really knew what to do," Stewart said. "It was the blind leading the blind."
Two seasons later, USC (9-0), which plays Troy on Saturday, is one of six undefeated teams left in the country. The maturation of the program has followed the development of his small class: point guard Jordan McLaughlin, the team's leader, is also a junior. Other than graduate transfer Charles Buggs, McLaughlin and Stewart are the oldest players in the regular rotation.
But while McLaughlin began as a major contributor and has made steady, incremental improvement, Stewart's progress has more closely mimicked USC's. A springy, athletic shooting guard, Stewart flashed potential as a freshman, but production was uneven.
"He was so streaky," Coach Andy Enfield said. "I think he scored 22 points on the road against Boston College, and I don't know if he scored for the next seven games."
Stewart did, but hardly: he averaged two points over his next 13 games. USC went 12-20 that season, finishing last in the Pac-12.
Last season, Stewart smoothed some of the peaks and valleys. He worked his way into the starting rotation by the end of the season. But the inconsistency festered.
USC went 21-13 that season, sixth in the Pac-12, and reached the NCAA tournament, but a late-season nosedive cost the Trojans a better seed and opportunity for advancement.
This season, Stewart has emerged as a constant force. His 17.1 points a game leads USC by a wide margin. His 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks a game ranks second. He has had only one game when he failed to score at least 10 points.
Enfield said Stewart has improved as a defender, too. He plays with more confidence and aggression.
"That's propelled him to another level of player," Enfield said. "I mean, he's much better than he was as a freshman and even last year."
USC, meanwhile, has cruised to its best start in 45 years.
The progression represents the latest step in Enfield's reconstruction of the program. For decades, this is the way a team was supposed to function: younger recruits assumed more responsibility as they aged and developed. The one-and-done system has upended that model to some degree, but Enfield said the vast majority of players remain in school.
"If you look around the country last year with Buddy Hield, Denzel Valentine, Brice Johnson, Malcolm Brogdon, all the best seniors around the country stayed," Enfield said. "As we found out two years ago when we were the youngest team in the country, it's hard to win with all freshmen and sophomores."
Stewart said USC's roster mix had reached a sustainable ratio. He noted that freshmen have still made major contributions. Point guard De'Anthony Melton, he said, was essential in wins against Texas A&M and Southern Methodist.
The difference now, Stewart said, is he is around to provide guidance.
"It's kind of like the cadet becoming the captain, you know?" Stewart said.
