USC Basketball: Breaking down the 2018 recruiting class
Kevin Porter – Seattle, WA
Guard | 6-foot-5 | 210 lbs | No. 28 overall
The crowning jewel of this recruiting class, Kevin Porter is an absolute stud. One of the best overall players in the entire 2018 class, I am extremely high on the potential of Porter to be a go-to player for the Trojans during his first year on campus. An extremely athletic wing with plenty of size and a polished game, Porter could be used in any number of ways during his potentially only collegiate season. He has been risen up recruiting rankings incredibly quickly over the last few months and he is starting to creep onto more than just a few NBA Draft boards.
The top recruit from the state of Washington, Porter was always regarded as a strong prospect but really improved his status at the Nike Hoops Summit this spring. According to The Oregonian, Porter had this to say regarding his play at the event:
"“I came in here to make a statement. I feel like I’ve been looked past for a couple years now. I got this opportunity to play against the best, so I just wanted to compete and show what I can do. All-around, I’m college-ready. My body, physically, mentally, but I think I can work better in the post so I can be more versatile.”"
Overall, Porter should fit like a glove into the USC rotation this season. With Rakocevic and Boatwright holding down the frontcourt, Porter could emerge as the go-to player on the wing. Offensively, there are not many things that Porter cannot do. He is a knockdown shooter from beyond the arc, can relentlessly attack the basket, and is a capable playmaker as well.
Simply put, Porter could be the star that leads USC to the Big Dance this season.
Next. Preseason projected Pac-12 rankings. dark
USC basketball may be quite young during upcoming season but there might be enough talent to reach the NCAA Tournament. It would certainly help if the roster was healthy but seeing one or more of these recruits have a breakout season would also go a long way.