Ontario Christian High School Star Kaleena Smith: USC Women’s Basketball on the Rise with Final Four Expectations

Ontario Christian High School point guard Kaleena Smith is currently the top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2027. With offers from top programs such as Louisville, UConn, UCLA, LSU, and South Carolina, Smith’s talent and skills have not gone unnoticed.

Smith has been selected to play for the USA Basketball U-17 National Team, which highlights her talent and potential. She will also be joining Overtime Select, a new women’s basketball league for top recruits, starting this August. In the previous season, Smith averaged an impressive 18.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.

The recruitment of Smith underscores the rising status of the USC Trojans women’s basketball program under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. The Trojans are now considered a powerhouse in women’s college basketball with players like JuJu Watkins transforming their identity. The team has Final Four expectations and a bright future filled with high-end talent. USC is expected to be a top-two seed in the Women’s NCAA Tournament regularly and compete for championship titles in the sport.

For more sports news and updates, you can also check out our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. And don’t miss out on the latest NFL draft coverage on the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.