USC Basketball

USC has scored a huge win in the 2019 recruiting race with power forward Isaiah Mobley committing to the Trojans on Friday.

Mobley explained that his father, USC assistant coach Eric Mobley, played a role in his decision. 

"USC, it was a good fit," he told Evan Daniels of 247Sports. "Obviously my dad has a lot of influence. It wasn’t just that, though. I like the school and I like their play style. I like how they develop their players."

Mobley is a 4-star prospect, No. 6 power forward and No. 31 overall player in the 2019 recruiting class, per 247Sports. 

He also praised USC head coach Andy Enfield's ability to develop young talent on his roster when picking the school as his new basketball home. 

"I like how coach developed Chimezie [Metu's] and Bennie [Boatwright's] games and their style of play," Mobley said. "How he gets everyone to play together, everybody gets touches. They’ve been having successful seasons."

USC hired Eric Mobley in March after Tony Bland was fired following his September arrest for his connection to the FBI investigation into bribery and corruption in college basketball. 

Isaiah, who is currently attending Rancho Christian School in California, also had offers from other Pac-12 schools, including Stanford, Arizona State and UCLA. 

Despite missing the NCAA tournament last year, USC is a program on the rise in the Pac-12. It has won at least 21 games in each of the past three seasons, tied for the longest such streak in school history. 

The USC Trojans have landed one of the top prospects in the 2019 basketball class in center Onyeka Okongwu.

The 5-star prospect announced his commitment Monday, per Evan Daniels of 247Sports.

"I'll be going to USC, and I picked USC because it's close to home. They recruited me the hardest, and I fell in love with the campus right when I got there," Okongwu said. "They could use a big man like me, and I think I fit in really well."

The 6'8" prospect is the fifth-best center and the No. 16 player overall in the country, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

The Chino Hills product also noted USC's style of play as a major plus.

"They play positionless basketball, where bigs can bring it up the court sometimes or play on the wing," he said. "They say they can develop me. I think I'm a 4 now, and I think when they develop me, I can be a stretch 4."

Being a stretch 4 is optimistic for Okongwu, as he is still developing his game on the offensive end. He is athletic enough to score inside and has the skill set to put the ball on the floor and create a shot. However, he still needs to improve on his shot before using it as a weapon at the next level.

In the meantime, the center is an elite defensive player thanks to his length and instincts in the post. He can block shots with consistency and affect plenty more even when he doesn't get a hand on the ball.

Chimezie Metu, who entered the 2018 NBA draft out of USC, could be an ideal model for the top prospect as a defensive-minded player who rounded out his game over three years in college.

Okongwu had offers from Kansas, UCLA, Ohio State and more, but he chose to stay home with the Trojans and could end up being an impact player down the line.

USC was one of several schools named as part of the FBI investigation into college basketball, and assistant coach Tony Bland, who is no longer with the Trojans program, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, solicitation of bribery and gratuities, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

However, that doesn't appear to have slowed down recruitment under head coach Andy Enfield.

USC coach Andy Enfield announced forward Chimezie Metu will not play in the NIT to avoid injury as he prepares to enter the 2018 NBA draft.

"Chimezie Metu has made a personal decision not to participate in the NIT as a precautionary measure to eliminate the risk of injury leading up to the NBA draft," Enfield said in a statement.

Metu, a junior, led the Trojans in points (15.7) and rebounds (7.4) during the regular season. His year was embroiled in turmoil after being named in the FBI probe into college basketball corruption. Documents linked him to a $2,000 payment from Andy Miller's sports agency, but USC later cleared him to play following an investigation.

"I didn't do anything wrong," Metu told reporters. "And nobody that I am associated with did anything wrong."

Associate head coach Tony Bland was fired and forward De'Anthony Melton was suspended for the season as a result of the FBI probe. Melton later left the school.

Metu sitting out is not much of a surprise given USC's frustration with not being selected for the NCAA tournament. Enfield said it was not his decision, but one made by USC administration, that led to the Trojans being in the NIT. He left the possibility open that top players would sit out to avoid injury.

"The feeling is the same," Enfield told reporters. "It doesn't go away in a day. Because we should be in the NCAA tournament. We deserve to be, and we're one of the best at-large teams out there."

Enfield did not say whether other players would sit out if USC continues in the tournament.

USC power forward Chimezie Metu has been cleared to play for the Trojans in Saturday's road game against Utah. Yahoo Sports reported Friday that Metu or adviser Johnnie Parker allegedly received a payment from ASM Sports, according to documents from an FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball.

Athletic director Lynn Swann released a statement about the decision before the Pac-12 clash at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City:

Documents reviewed by Yahoo Sports showed $2,000 was given to Metu and/or Parker. No further details were provided.

Metu is the Trojans' leading scorer at 16 points per game this season. The junior is also averaging 7.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 blocks while shooting 51.9 percent from the floor in 29 games.

He committed to USC as a 247Sports 4-star prospect in November 2014 as part of the 2015 recruiting class.

The Trojans currently sit second in the Pac-12, 1.5 games behind Arizona with two games left in the regular season. The Wildcats were also linked to the scandal after Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com reported head coach Sean Miller was recorded on wiretap discussing a possible $100,000 payment to secure a commitment from coveted recruit Deandre Ayton, who ultimately signed with the Cats.

Utah is one game behind USC in the Pac-12 ahead of Saturday's contest. Former Utes star and current Los Angeles Lakers rookie Kyle Kuzma is also listed in the Yahoo Sports report for allegedly receiving "at least $9,500" during his time at the school.

USC assistant basketball coach Tony Bland has been fired by the school for after being part of an FBI probe into bribery and corruption in college basketball.

Per Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times, Bland's attorney, Jeffrey Litchman, said his client was fired last week.

Bland was one of four assistant coaches charged last September with bribery conspiracy, solicitation of bribes, honest services fraud conspiracy, honest service fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and Travel Act conspiracy. 

The charges came as the result of a three-year FBI probe related to coaches receiving financial compensation to direct players going into the NBA toward specific agents and apparel companies. 

Chuck Person from Auburn, Lamont Evans from Oklahoma State and Emanuel Richardson from Arizona were the other coaches charged in the case. They have also been fired by their respective schools for their involvement in the scandal. 

Hired by USC in 2013, Bland had been on administrative leave since September.  

USC guard De'Anthony Melton will sit out the remainder of the 2017-18 season after being linked to a federal investigation into college basketball bribery. 

Melton's attorney, Vicki I. Podberesky, confirmed the decision to Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times.

The sophomore sat out the first 18 games of the season as the school investigated claims a family friend took a kickback in exchange for Melton planning to sign with a certain agent and financial advisor once he reached the NBA.

Agent Christian Dawkins allegedly paid David Elliott $5,000 in exchange for Melton agreeing to sign with him and financial advisor Munish Sood. USC declared Melton ineligible after receiving new information about the case, which has to yet be specified. 

"De'Anthony is a valued member of our program. He will have options for his future at USC, including remaining in school on scholarship while continuing to work on his degree and practicing with the team, and potentially compete for the Trojans in the 2018-19 season," the school said in a statement.

The federal probe into college basketball corruption has already led to 10 arrests, including four college assistant coaches. USC's Tony Bland was among those arrested.

Melton averaged 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game during his freshman season. 

A "person with direct knowledge of the college basketball bribery case" told Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times that Foothills Christian High player and former USC commit Taeshon Cherry is "the USC recruit identified as Player-8 in the federal criminal complaint against Trojans associate head coach Tony Bland."

However, Cherry's mother Danielle denied the claim. 

"It's not true," she said. "My son is not Player-8."

Cherry, a 5-star small forward who is considered the No. 27 player in 247Sports' Composite Rankings for the Class of 2018, decommitted from USC last week. He joined 4-star power forward J’Raan Brooks in decommitting in the wake of the FBI's investigation into Bland, weakening what was once one of the top recruiting classes in the country.

Cherry's grandfather, Paul Phipps, attributed USC's lack of communication in the past month for his grandson's decision to withdraw his commitment, per Fenno: 

"I just feel like USC decided that anybody associated with Bland is probably someone they didn’t want to be associated with. My grandson is a great kid. He certainly has not done anything that in any way would jeopardize his eligibility in any way to be at USC. The fact they have really backed away from him is disappointing. It’s like the hangover from Reggie Bush has left USC so risk-intolerant. I get it. I’m a big USC guy. But come on."

In November, Bland pleaded not guilty to bribery charges. He was accused of receiving a $13,000 bribe from prospective manager Christian Dawkins and financial advisor Munish Sood for "directing USC players to use their services when they joined the NBA," according to Nina Agrawal of the Los Angeles Times. He also allegedly facilitated "payments of $4,000 and $5,000 to associates of two USC players, a recruit and a sophomore, in late August."

That recruit was listed as "Player-8" in the federal complaint brought against Bland. 

"Based on my discussion with [the undercover agent], I know that once outside the restaurant, while walking toward their cars, [the undercover agent] handed Dawkins the envelope containing $4,000 and Dawkins then walked off with Player-8’s relative," the complaint noted of a meeting between Dawkins, Sood and Player-8's relative in late August.

The complaint also said $5,000 was paid to David Elliott, a close family friend of USC sophomore guard De’Anthony Melton, who has since been deemed ineligible by the school.

USC basketball continued its impressive run of recruiting Sunday with the addition of Kevin Porter Jr.

The 4-star recruit announced his decision on his personal Twitter account:

According to Scout.com, Porter is the second-best shooting guard in the country and the No. 26 player overall in the 2018 class.

The Seattle native is the third top-100 recruit to join the Trojans in the last week. The 2018 class also includes 4-star power forward J'Raan Brooks and 5-star wing Taeshon Cherry.

Zach Helfand of the Los Angeles Times summed up the recent stretch:

While each player can make an immediate impact, Porter could be especially valuable on the offensive end. The 6'5" guard has great size, strength and athleticism to attack the basket and finish at the rim while also possessing the ability to knock down shots from the outside.

The lefty should help right away on an up-and-coming USC squad coming off its first 26-win season in history.

The USC Trojans added a huge commitment to their 2018 recruiting class Friday, as small forward Taeshon Cherry announced his intention to play at Southern Cal.

Cherry went public with the news in the following tweet:

According to Scout.com, Cherry is a 5-star prospect who ranks as the No. 24 overall player, No. 7 small forward and No. 1 player at his position from the state of California in his class.

Per Scout, other top programs such as Arizona, Gonzaga, UCLA, Florida State, Kansas and Oregon were also in pursuit of Cherry.

According to Scout's Josh Gershon, Cherry chose USC due to his connection with the coaching staff and the team's style of play:

"I'm going to USC. I have a good relationship with [assistant coach] Tony [Bland] and [head coach Andy] Enfield. Their style of play really fits my style of play and it's a perfect fit for me. ... They know how to use me. I have a similar game to [USC forward] Bennie [Boatwright] but I'm a bit faster. Watching how they used him helped me with my decision. They'll play me at the two and three to help me get to NBA."

Enfield is building a potential Pac-12 powerhouse, as he also received a commitment from the 86th-ranked 2018 recruit in J'raan Brooks on Monday, per Scout.

At 6'9", Cherry has remarkable length for a small forward, and he also has room to add bulk to his 220-pound frame in order to potentially see some action at power forward.

The San Diego native averaged 13.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for the AAU Oakland Soldiers team on the Nike EYBL circuit during the spring, according to ESPN.com's Jeff Borzello.

Cherry will join a USC team that has reached the NCAA tournament in each of the past two seasons under Enfield after a four-year drought.

J'Raan Brooks announced Monday he has committed to the USC Trojans.

Brooks is the No. 86 player overall and No. 19 power forward in the 2018 recruiting class, according to Scout.

Brooks is a solid scorer who can hold his own inside at 6'8" and 215 pounds. While his range doesn't extend to the three-point line, he can consistently knock down jumpers from mid-range. His work on the glass will also help a team that tied for 154th in rebounding (36.1 rebounds per game).

Brooks is the first commitment for USC's 2018 class.

Head coach Andy Enfield has done well to turn the Trojans around after the program stagnated under Kevin O'Neill. USC has reached the NCAA tournament in each of the last two years, and this would be the fifth straight year Enfield has signed a top-100 player—assuming Brooks doesn't waver in his commitment to the school.

The Trojans are still in the hunt for Taeshon Cherry as well, with the 5-star small forward listing USC among his six finalists last week:

Cherry is the No. 24 player and No. 7 small forward in the country, per Scout. Putting him, Brooks and Chimezie Metu, who averaged 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds as a sophomore, in the same frontcourt would be an imposing sight for opposing teams.