USC women鈥檚 basketball commit Aaliyah Gayles wants to 鈥榩ut Spring Valley on the map鈥�
LAS VEGAS (BVM) 鈥� The as the USC women鈥檚 basketball head coach in late April ushered in a new era for the Women of Troy. It led to the, who arrived in Los Angeles after becoming the seventh female NBA assistant (Cleveland Cavaliers) and the first NCAA women鈥檚 head coach to be hired by an NBA team, in May.听
But Trakh鈥檚 departure was impactful in more ways than one. On the same day that Trakh鈥檚 retirement was announced, Erin Grant, an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at USC for the last two seasons, was hired as an assistant coach at Arizona.
The uncertainty surrounding the program鈥檚 leadership resulted in the decommitment of its top recruit from the Class of 2022 back in November.听
鈥淚 decommitted because I was very close to Coach Erin,鈥� Spring Valley鈥檚 Aaliyah Gayles, a, said. 鈥淚 was very close to her and I didn鈥檛 really know the players at the time and I didn鈥檛 know the new coaches.鈥�听
Gayles is the No. 8 recruit in and would鈥檝e been a devastating loss for a USC program that went 11-12 overall in 2021. But luckily for Gottlieb and the Trojans, Gayles took another visit to USC where her initial feelings were reinvigorated.听
鈥淲hen I went back, they brought home back to me, like 鈥榯his is where I want to be at,鈥欌�� Gayles said. 鈥淓specially the freshmen, they made me feel welcomed and I could tell by the coaching staff that they care about you personally.听
110% committed 鉂わ笍馃挍鉂わ笍
— Aaliyah Gayles (@IsthatAg3)
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really want to leave at first but, you know, decisions are decisions. But I鈥檓 just glad to be back.鈥�听
Gayles uses words like 鈥渉ome鈥� when describing USC because she is originally from the Los Angeles area and still has family in the area.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 really cool because all of my family that lives out there lives close to USC so I can visit them,鈥� Gayles said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a better opportunity for me to see the side of my family that I don鈥檛 get to see all the time. It was a good choice.鈥�听
The 5-foot-9 point guard is a massive get for the Trojans.
She averaged 12.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.7 steals as a sophomore in 2019-20 and led the Grizzlies to a 26-7 record and the Class 4A state semifinals. Gayles鈥� athleticism and lighting quick first step have made her one of the most talented juniors in the entire country.听
鈥淚鈥檓 super athletic and can get to the rim but I鈥檓 also a playmaker and like to get my teammates going first before I will,鈥� Gayles said.听
As gifted as Gayles is on the offensive end, it鈥檚 what she brings to the table defensively that makes her an elite prospect.听
鈥淢y go-to is defense; I鈥檓 a defensive player,鈥� Gayles said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what starts offense and I feel like I can lock down mostly anyone.鈥�听
Gayles has stayed busy ahead of her senior season, recently competing in the 2021 Border League and going head-to-head with UCLA commit.听
These girls went at each other this morning 馃棧馃敟
馃帴:— Border League (@brdrleague)
Back in action soon for Spring Valley for the first time since her sophomore season, Gayles has lofty goals for her senior campaign.听
鈥淭he main goal right now is to make it to state,鈥� Gayles said. 鈥淪ince this is my last season, I just want to put Spring Valley on the map and represent us while I鈥檓 gone. But the goal is to get to state, be the best and come out on top.鈥�听
鉁濓笍馃挄
— Aaliyah Gayles (@IsthatAg3)
