Elijah Weaver commits to 2018 USC Basketball recruiting class

Four-star point guard Elijah Weaver committed to USC Basketball’s 2018 recruiting class on Monday, turning the Trojans fortunes this fall around.

USC Basketball fans finally have something to cheer for this fall after four-star point guard Elijah Weaver committed to the Trojans on Monday afternoon.

The 6-foot-4 guard from Oldsmar, Florida named USC in his Top 4 at the end of August, ultimately picking the Trojans over Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Florida.

Weaver ranks 35th in the nation for the class of 2018, per the 247Sports composite, making him USC’s second-highest ranked recruit this year. He rates as both the No. 7 point guard and player in the state of Florida.

Before Weaver’s commitment, the Trojans slipped down from the top of the recruiting rankings to No. 24 due to the de-commitment of four-star power forward J’Raan Brooks. The addition of Weaver will help boost USC back among the nation’s top recruiting classes.

SEE MORE: J’Raan Brooks Re-Opens His Recruitment

Along with Weaver, USC’s 2018 recruiting class boasts four-star small forward Taeshon Cherry, who ranks 32nd nationally, and four-star shooting guard Kevin Porter, who ranks 44th in the class.

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The recruiting situation around the Trojans has been tenuous since the arrest of assistant coach Tony Bland as part of the FBI’s probe into fraud and bribery in college basketball. It was Bland’s arrest and the uncertainty around the basketball program as a result which prompted Brooks’ de-commitment.

Those questions haven’t deterred Weaver from putting his hat in the ring for the Trojans.

USC needs to retain their strong recruiting class in this cycle, with a wave of departures expected after this season.

Senior guards Jordan McLaughlin and Elijah Stewart will have used up their eligibility while forwards Chimezie Metu and Bennie Boatwright are likely to leave as NBA prospects. Additionally, USC could lose sophomore guard De’Anthony Melton to the pros as well.