Lindsay Gottlieb and the USC Trojans women’s basketball program have officially extended an offer to Kaleena Smith, a 5-foot-5 point guard who is currently the top recruit in the Class of 2027. Smith attends Ontario Christian High School in California and has received offers from other top programs such as Louisville, UConn, UCLA, LSU, and South Carolina.
Smith’s talent and skills have not gone unnoticed as she was selected to play for the USA Basketball U-17 National Team. Additionally, she will be joining Overtime Select, a new women’s basketball league for top recruits starting this August. In the previous season, Smith averaged 18.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.
The recruitment of Smith highlights the rising status of the USC Trojans women’s basketball program led by head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. With players like JuJu Watkins transforming the identity of the team, the Trojans are now considered a powerhouse in women’s college basketball. They have Final Four expectations and a bright future filled with high-end talent. USC is expected to be a top-two seed in the Women’s NCAA Tournament regularly, competing for championship titles in the sport.
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