The commitment of elite power forward Taeshon Cherry upped the voltage on the excitement around USC Basketball on Friday.
USC Basketball fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about the direction of the program, and those reasons only multiplied on Friday when four-star power forward Taeshon Cherry committed to the Trojans.
Cherry’s commitment is one of the biggest recruiting victories for USC in years. He is the Trojan’s highest-rated commit in ESPN and Scout rankings in nearly a decade.
In the 247Sports composite, Cherry is second only to Chimezie Metu among Trojan commits since DeMar DeRozan.
He is also USC’s second commit for 2018 in less than a week after the Trojans added four-star power forward J’Raan Brooks on Monday.
Naturally, social media lit up at the news of Cherry’s decision. With Cherry on board, USC Basketball’s prospects will be higher than ever, even with expected departures after the 2017-18 season, including top scorers Bennie Boatwright and Metu.
The Trojans are already projected as a Top 10 team in preseason polls, having returned nearly the entire lineup from last year’s tournament squad. Cherry and company will hope to keep that momentum going as USC establishes itself among the most dangerous programs in the Pac-12.
Here’s a look at the best of the Twitter reaction to the commitment:
LA LETS TURN UP !!! IM COMING SC !! ✌?❤️? pic.twitter.com/uYJ3G2eVFd
— Tae ? (@tcherry002) June 30, 2017
The wait is over! It's @USC_Hoops for @slim_reaper635 pic.twitter.com/C6AQeGINLe
— Lisa Lane (@LisaLane_Sports) June 30, 2017
?????
— TheSleuth (@uschoops_sleuth) June 30, 2017
S/O to Taeshon Cherry on committing to USC ? @slim_reaper635 pic.twitter.com/FiUXfZJ5V8
— Overtime (@overtime) June 30, 2017
Big one for USC....possible early departures of Boatwright & Metu met but top-100 forward commits Taeshon Cherry & J'Raan Brooks https://t.co/MPJ0OUTpF0
— Corey Evans (@coreyevans_10) June 30, 2017
Taeshon Cherry said his first call will be to the No. 1 ranked player Marvin Bagley to join him at USC. Also said he's going after Tre Jones https://t.co/t5EmIfDyVd
— Krysten Peek (@krystenpeek) June 30, 2017
What is #USC getting in Taeshon Cherry?
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) June 30, 2017
"He is a tough kid and doesn't mind contact on either end of the court. He plays extremely hard." https://t.co/iocKanXBy4
Andy Enfield and his coaching staff continue to be a recruiting powerhouse. Taeshon Cherry fits as Bennie Boatwright's successor for #USC. https://t.co/elqpGxTLgE
— Max Meyer (@TheMaxMeyer) June 30, 2017
Taeshon Cherry becomes the highest-ranked USC commit since Demar DeRozan in 2008: https://t.co/NwuULhzQVK
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) June 30, 2017
2018 SF Taeshon Cherry has committed to USC, per his Twitter page. The buzz continues to be palpable at the Galen Center. Five-Star recruit.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 30, 2017
The commits of Brooks & Cherry keeps the momentum going for USC rather than the 2017-18 season being an all-or-nothing proposition. https://t.co/hn4fsneJe0
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) June 30, 2017
Andy Enfield is on an absolute roll. USC being relevant in both football and basketball is a wonderful thing https://t.co/D9fiB8wkhw
— Eric He (@erichejourno) June 30, 2017
Trojans have a deep, experienced top 15-caliber team next season and are poised to be very good for years to come. https://t.co/0rzlPVh25r
— Jeff Eisenberg (@JeffEisenberg) June 30, 2017
With Cherry’s commitment, alongside Brooks’, USC’s 2018 class is now rated No. 8 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings. Last year, the Trojans landed the nation’s No. 24 class, another steady improvement from the No. 32-ranked class of 2016.