
With Saniyah Hall Commitment, USC Continues Recruiting Prowess
Key Takeaways
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
Forbes
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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.
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