USC basketball recruiting: Reclassified Trojan target commits to Alabama

Four-star forward Alex Tchikou picked Alabama over USC basketball and others.

USC basketball’s hopes of beefing up the 2020 recruiting class with four-star forward Alex Tchikou were dashed on Sunday.

Tchikou announced his commitment to Alabama in a tweet thanking God and all the people who have helped him along the way.

“Thanks to the 40+ schools that recruited me. And, thanks to Coach Nate Oats and the Alabama staff for believing in me and recruiting me,” Tchikou wrote. “I am 100% committed to Alabama Crimson.”

https://twitter.com/tcalex0/status/1279852584195383296

Alex Tchikou had USC basketball in his Top 8

Less than a week ago, the Trojans were firmly in the race to sign Tchikou. However, he didn’t need much time to decide after naming the Crimson Tide in his favorites along with USC, Oregon, Alabama, Saint Mary’s, Saint John’s, Arizona, Florida State and Illinois.

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The 6-foot-11, 200-pound Frenchman was supposed to play another season in high school but opted to reclassify into the class of 2020. He ranks No. 58 nationally and No. 11 among power forwards in the 247Sports composite.

Tchikou would have been welcomed into USC’s recruiting class, but the Trojans can cope without him having signed a two-man class while bringing in a variety of transfers.

Five-star center Evan Mobley, the brother of current Trojan forward Isaiah Mobley, headlined the class as the No. 3 player in the country. Center Boubacar Coulibaly, a 6-foot-10 three-star from San Gabriel, also signed.

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On the transfer side of things, USC picked up five players in the portal. The likes of guard Tahj Eaddy and forward’s Chevez Goodwin and Isaiah White will be eligible to play this coming season. The remaining two, forward Joshua Morgan and guard Drew Peterson, will have to wait a year before taking the court in cardinal and gold.

That highlights the only big concern for USC: depth. Tchikou could have given the Trojans a valuable body in the rotation if nothing else. As it stands they will have just nine active players available in the 2020-21 season.