Claude, Big East’s Many Enhanced, to sign up with USC

Jeff Borzello, ESPN

• Personnel WriterMay 2, 2024, 11:57 AM ET Close Basketball recruiting insider.
• Signed up with ESPN in 2014.
• Graduate of University of Delaware.Xavier transfer Desmond Claude, winner of the Big East’s The majority of Improved Gamer award, has actually dedicated to USC, he told ESPN.Claude becomes the Trojans’ninth transfer addition and 11th newcomer of the offseason, as new coach Eric Musselman moves closer to settling his first USC lineup. Claude chose the Trojans after taking a check out to their campus last weekend. “It truthfully felt like an ideal fit from the very first call,”Claude stated.

“The scholastic assistance, basketball resources and basketball vision all seemed customized for me. Likewise, Coach Musselman has a proven performance history over the past several years of assisting huge lead guards make the jump to being NBA-ready guards.”Editor’s Picks A 6-foot-6 guard, Claude was a late bloomer in the 2022 high school class, however his size and ability to rating and create for others put him on the radar of high-major programs. He committed to Travis Steele at Xavier, then kept his promise when Sean Miller took control of following the coaching change. Claude revealed flashes as a freshman, but his real breakout came this previous season as a sophomore.His scoring typical leapt from 4.7 indicate 16.6 points, while also grabbing 4.2 rebounds and distributing 3.2 helps per game.Claude started the project with 25 points versus Robert Morris and continued to produce,

striking double figures in scoring in all however three games the entire season. He scored 20 or more points on 12 separate celebrations, consisting of 36 against Georgetown in early March and 26 against Butler two times. His Xavier career ended with 30 points, five rebounds and five assists in an NIT loss to Georgia.The Trojans terribly required a playmaker in the backcourt, and Claude needs to fill that space.”The vision that Coach Musselman set out for me blends completely with my playmaking ability, NBA aspirations and continuous advancement as a lead guard,”he stated.”I’m thrilled to make the next huge dive in my development and I’m specifically delighted to be a part of the USC household.

“Claude joins a deep transfer class heading to USC, highlighted by Chibuzo Agbo (13.7 PPG at Boise State), Terrance Williams II( 12.4 PPG at Michigan), Saint Thomas (19.7 PPG at Northern Colorado)and Josh Cohen (15.9 PPG at UMass). The nine-deep group of portal recruits will be joined by ESPN 100 freshmen Jalen Shelley (No. 50 )and Isaiah Elohim(No. 55 ), both of whom had actually committed to Musselman at Arkansas.