USC basketball recruiting: Defense-minded four-star PF names Top 8

USC basketball made the cut as four-star power forward Arthur Kaluma named a Top 8.

USC basketball recruiting has been off the charts in recent years. The Trojans are hoping to keep things going in the class of 2021.

There was good news on that front on Wednesday as four-star power forward Arthur Kaluma announced a Top 8.

The Dream City Christian product is considering USC along with Syracuse, Oklahoma, Arkansas, UNLV, ASU, Texas A&M and Kansas.

Why does USC basketball want Arthur Kaluma?

If Dream City Christian sounds familiar, it might be because you’ve ready about Kaluma’s teammate Alex Tchikou. The four-star forward recently reclassified to the class of 2020 and named USC in his own Top 8.

SEE MORE: Coveted four-star forward reclassifies, names Top 8

Kaluma is following suit in his Top 8 for the class of 2021.

The 6-foot-8, 205-pound power forward is best known for the defensive side of his game along with his rebounding ability on the offensive and defensive boards. Josh Gershon of 247Sports credited him with “tremendous defensive upside.” However, Kaluma’s offensive production leaves something to be desired at this point.

With his senior season upcoming, Kaluma ranks No. 36 in the 247Sports composite. He is eighth among point guards and second in Arizona.

USC already ranks No. 1 in 247Sports team rankings with three commitments in the class of 2021. Four-star shooting guards Reese Dixon-Waters from St. Bernard High School in Playa Del Rey and Malik Thomas from Damien High School in La Verne both pledged back in March. Last year the Trojans picked up a commitment from Mater Dei center Harrison Hornery.

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Kaluma, if USC can manage to draw him in for a commitment, would outrank all of those.

Even though Hornery is the only big man slated for the class of 2021 at the moment, the Trojans have shored up in that spot. They added three-star forward Boubacar Coulibaly in the class of 2020 as well as adding Joshua Morgan, a transfer forward from Long Beach State who will have to sit out the 2020-21 season before being eligible in 2021-22.