Jacob Cofie is a highly versatile American college basketball forward, currently suiting up for the USC Trojans in the Big Ten Conference. A former standout at Virginia, Cofie made the transition after a promising freshman season and is now poised to elevate his game on the West Coast Tar Heel Times+14Wikipedia+14circuitscouting.com+14.
Early Life & High School Dominance
Born February 7, 2006, in Seattle, Washington, Cofie attended Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish. As a junior, he averaged 20.9 PPG, 11 RPG, 5.2 APG, and as a senior he improved to 21.9 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 6.3 APG, 2.3 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game—earning Washington Gatorade Player of the Year and Class 3A state championship honors Streaking The Lawn+4Wikipedia+4USC Athletics+4.
Virginia Cavaliers: Freshman Year Recap
Cofie joined Virginia in 2024 as a consensus four-star recruit. He played in all 32 games, starting 16, and averaged 7.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game, with a field goal percentage of 49.5% Wikipedia+3USC Athletics+3USC Athletics+3.
Notable performances included:
- Season debut: 16 points, 6 rebounds against Campbell
- 11-point, 11-rebound game plus 4 steals, 3 blocks vs. Coppin State
- Career‑high 17 points vs. Notre Dame on January 25, 2025 goheels.com+8virginiasports.com+8sports.yahoo.com+8post-gazette.com+15Wikipedia+15USC Athletics+15
Cofie entered the NCAA transfer portal in March 2025 amid a roster overhaul at Virginia latimes.com+12Streaking The Lawn+12Wikipedia+12.
USC Trojans: New Chapter Begins
In April 2025, Cofie committed to the USC Trojans, marking the first transfer addition of the offseason for head coach Eric Musselman. Musselman praised Cofie as “extremely versatile with elite athleticism” and a player who offers flexibility in how the team aims to play USC Athletics.
In his introduction with USC, Cofie described himself as a high‑energy, multi‑faceted forward: “You’ll see me rebounding, defending, shooting, dunking, play‑making… I pride myself most on my defense” House of Victory.
Player Profile & Skill Set
- Size & Versatility: Standing around 6′10″ and 230–235 lbs, Cofie is capable of playing both power forward and center. He can guard bigger opponents and switch onto stretch games effectively Streaking The Lawn247 SportsStreaking The LawnUSC Athletics.
- Offensive Poise: Cofie thrives in half-court sets. His high-post and low-post footwork, mid-range touch, and passing ability make him a facilitator in the frontcourt Streaking The Lawncircuitscouting.com247 Sports.
- Defensive Reliability: While not a shot-block leader, his size, discipline, and defensive instincts allow him to consistently contest shots and rotate effectively 247 SportsStreaking The Lawn.
Analysts see Cofie as a high‑floor prospect with room to grow into a major two‑way contributor in a major conference 247 Sports.
FAQs: Everything You Want to Know
Q1: Who is Jacob Cofie and where does he play?
Jacob Cofie is a 6′10″ power forward from Seattle who played his freshman year at Virginia before transferring to USC for the 2025‑26 season House of Victory+2USC Athletics+2ESPN.com+2.
Q2: What are his freshman stats and highlights?
In 2024–25 at Virginia, he averaged 7.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and shot 49.5% from the field. Standout games included double-doubles and a 17-point performance versus Notre Dame Wikipedia+4USC Athletics+4virginiasports.com+4.
Q3: Why did he leave Virginia?
Cofie entered the transfer portal in March 2025 amid team changes and sought a return to the West Coast, ultimately choosing USC where he felt the coaching staff and location were a better fit Streaking The LawnHouse of VictoryUSC Athletics.
Q4: What does Cofie bring to USC?
Jacob brings defensive versatility, size, reliable scoring inside, passing ability, and high energy. He’s described himself as a player who does a bit of everything—especially defensively House of Victory247 SportsUSC Athletics.
Q5: What was his high school background?
At Eastside Catholic, he averaged nearly 22 PPG, 12 RPG, 6 APG, plus over 2 steals and blocks per game. He was named Washington Gatorade Player of the Year and led his team to a state title USC Athletics+3USC Athletics+3Wikipedia+3.
Q6: What potential does he have moving forward?
Scouting reports call him a “high-floor” prospect—steady and polished with upside. He’s expected to thrive in structured systems like Virginia’s half-court offense while exploring more freedom at USC 247 Sportscircuitscouting.com.
Final Thoughts
Jacob Cofie journey from a standout high school star to a Virginia freshman and now to USC reveals a young athlete with vision, commitment, and adaptability. His all-around game and defensive instincts position him as a key piece in escalated roles at USC. Fans can expect a forward who brings energy, versatility, and a balanced skill set—whether it’s finish, defend or facilitate.
