National Signing Day for all winter and spring sports is today, and USC women's basketball kicked things off in strong fashion, signing the nation's tenth ranked class according to ESPN for 2016. Joining the Trojans next season will be Valerie Higgins, Asiah Jones, Minyon Moore and Ja'Tavia Tapley."We identified three things as our top priorities as we built the USC class of 2016: talent, high motors and passion to play," head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke said on Wednesday. "Each of our four signees are exceptional basketball players who will immediately impact and add to the talent level of our team."
For a complete recap of women's basketball signing day, click here.
Two of the new additions, Valerie Higgins and Minyon Moore, are California natives who attended Chaminade College Prep High School and Salesian High School, respectively. Higgins, a 6-foot-0 guard, was named to the All-CIF First Team and was ranked as an ESPN Top-10 Wing at Chaminade. According to Cooper-Dyke, she will bring unparalleled versatility to the Trojans next year. Also a guard, Moore helped lead Salesian to the North Coast Section Division IV Championship and stands out as a "ball hawk" with "relentless energy".
Tall and talented forward Asiah Jones will join the Trojans in 2016 as well. From Piedmont, South Carolina, Jones' size gives her an advantage as a shot blocker and rebounder which will strengthen the Women of Troy on both ends of the court. Ja'Tavia Tapley rounds out the fearsome foursome as a 6-foot-3 forward from Jacksonville, Florida. She is ranked as the No. 39 overall prospect in the nation and the No. 6 small forward.
The quartet won't take the court for USC until 2016 but there's lots to be excited about this year as the Women of Troy get their season underway on Friday at 12 p.m. PT at the Galen Center.
