USC Basketball: Trojans Officially Extend Offer to High-Flying Senior Jahki Howard
Trojan fans, rejoice! A blue-chipper is en route for the 2024-25 NCAA season.
Five-star rising high school senior Jahki Howard, a 6'7" small forward, has agreed to an offer from USC, according to a report from The Basketball Tribune.
Considered to be one of the more athletic prospects in his class, the swingman opted for sunny southern California over rival offers from the Memphis Tigers, North Carolina State, University of Connecticut, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Providence, Norfolk State, Arizona State and more.
The 17-year-old wing is currently training with pro league Overtime Elite. He is considered the 17th-best small forward in his class, per Jacob Polacheck of Zagsblog.
With the Elite in 2022-23, Howard posted solid-if-unspectacular averages of 10.1 points (including 2.3 dunks!) on 58.6% shooting from the field, 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.3 dimes per contest.
Howard's signing stands as yet another recruiting win for USC. The Trojans have consistently added high-level pro prospects over the years. Will Howard join the ranks of NBA stars DeMar DeRozan, Evan Mobley, Nikola Vucevic, Kevin Porter Jr., Onyeka Okongwu and Taj Gibson on the club's list of long-term elite alumni? Time will tell.
His addition to the Trojans' future roster is clearly an upside-oriented deal. The team is betting big on his raw physical tools eventually translating to efficient fastbreak scoring and perimeter defense against college competition.
