With Saniyah Hall Commitment, USC Continues Recruiting Prowess
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With Saniyah Hall Commitment, USC Continues Recruiting Prowess

July 28, 2025
06:00 AM
6 min read
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Saniyah Hall, the No. 1 high school girls basketball recruit, committed to USC. USC signed the top prep recruits in 2023 (JuJu Watkins) and 2025 (Jazzy Davidson), too.

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July 28, 2025

06:00 AM

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Re suggests that From an analytical standpoint, SportsMoneyWith Saniyah Hall Commitment, USC Continues Recruiting wessByTim Casey, Senior Contributor

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights

Tim Casey is a reporter who covers basketball and sports, amid market uncertainty

AuthorJul 28, 2025, 06:00am EDTSPOKANE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 31: Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb of the USC Trojans giving a high five to

More Kayleigh Heckel #9 before their game against the UConn Huskies during the Elite Eight round of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Spokane Arena on March 31, 2025 in Spokane, Washington

However, (Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)NCAA Photos via Getty Images In May 2021, Lindsay Gottlieb stepped down as a Cleveland Cavaliers assistant to become the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Southern California

Furthermore, For the Trojans, it was a coup luring one of the sport’s best coaches back to the college game, given current economic conditions

And for Gottlieb, it was a chance to return to the state where she had made a mark as Cal’s head women’s coach, leading the Bears to seven NCAA tournament appearances in eight seasons, in this volatile climate

So far, the partnership has worked out well for both sides, and it seems ly to continue to thrive in the coming years, given the current landscape

Furthermore, On Friday, high school senior Saniyah Hall, a 6-foot-1 guard and ESPN’s No, in this volatile climate

Additionally, 1 recruit, committed to USC during an appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today” show, in this volatile climate

Moreover, She said that she felt at “” at the school and “loved” her future teammates, in this volatile climate

She also praised the coaching staff, including Gottlieb

Conversely, “She’s definitely there just to support me,” Hall said (which is quite significant). “I’ve built a relationship with her, given current economic conditions

Additionally, She’s a great coach, in today's market environment

Conversely, Hall, who led the U (this bears monitoring)

To the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup title this month, is the high school star to commit to USC

Additionally, JuJu Watkins, the No. 1 recruit in the high school Class of 2023, signed with USC and became an instant sensation

On the other hand, Watkins was a first team All-American as a freshman and the national player of the year last season as a sophomore, amid market uncertainty

Watkins, a 6-foot-2 guard who grew up near USC’s campus, is averaging 25. 5 points per game in her career

No player in women’s basketball history has scored more points (1,709) than Watkins did in her first two seasons, given current economic conditions

Watkins sustained a serious knee injury during the NCAA tournament in March, and it is unknown when she will return

But if she is able to get back on the court sometime this season, she will be joining another potential star in Jazzy Davidson, an incoming freshman and the No

However, 1 recruit in the high school class of 2025

Additionally, Davidson, a 6-foot-1 guard, played at Clackamas High School in Oregon, 10 miles from Portland, given current economic conditions

She was a four-time Gatorade state player of the year and excelled on the national and international stage, including winning gold with Team USA in the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup and the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup, where she averaged 14

Additionally, 6 points, 4

At the same time, 1 rebounds, 3

Moreover, 9 assists and 3 steals per game and made second-team all-tournament, in today's market environment

In contrast, MORE FOR YOU At the U19 World Cup, Davidson started alongside Hall, who was named the Most Valuable Player after averaging 19

On the other hand, 9 points, 6

Furthermore, 4 rebounds and 2, considering recent developments. 9 steals per game and helping the U

Furthermore, Win each of its seven games

Hall, who played last season at Montverde Academy in Florida, recently transferred to SPIRE Academy in her state of Ohio

Hall’s other college finalists were UCLA, North Carolina and South Carolina

When Hall arrives at USC in the fall of 2026, the Trojans could have three overall No. 1 recruits on their roster

In contrast, Watkins is not eligible to enter the WNBA draft until 2027, so if the rules remain in place she will spend one season playing with Davidson and Hall

If healthy, that trio should be among the best in the nation and keep USC back in the mix for an NCAA championship, which was unheard of in the 30 years before Gottlieb arrived

USC did win back-to-back national titles in 1983 and 1984, the second and third years that the NCAA hosted a women’s basketball tournament

The data indicates that analysis suggests that Trojans also lost in the 1986 national title game and advanced to the Elite 8 in 1992 and 1994, given current economic conditions

But when Gottlieb arrived in 2021, USC had not made the tournament since 2014 and had won only two tournament games in the previous 27 years, in this volatile climate

After USC went 12-16 in Gottlieb’s first season, the Trojans have made the NCAAs in each of the past three seasons, including as No, in this volatile climate

At the same time, 1 seeds in 2024 and 2025 when they lost in the Elite 8 both times

However, This past season, the Trojans experienced a disappointing blow when Watkins sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the second round

Additionally, With Watkins out, it was too much for the Trojans, who lost to eventual national champion UConn (an important development)

On the other hand, While Watkins recovers from her injury, the Trojans will be under the radar a bit entering the season

However, Still, they do have some talented players with Davidson as well as sophomore guard Kennedy Smith (9. 5 points per game last season) and transfer guards Kara Dunn (Georgia ) and Londynn Jones (UCLA) (which is quite significant)

If Watkins can return close to or at full strength, USC should be back among the best in the country entering the NCAAs

Conversely, And with the way Gottlieb is recruiting and coaching, the Trojans should remain an elite gram just as the women’s game continues to see more interest from fans and sponsors a (which is quite significant)

However, Editorial StandardsRes & PermissionsLOADING PLAYER.