USC Welcomes Kiki Alofaituli


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The USC women’s basketball eighth-ranked recruiting class received a welcome addition over the weekend as local prep star Kiki Alofaituli gave her commitment to head coach Michael Cooper.

Alofaituli, a 6’1″ forward from nearby powerhouse Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., will bring a wealth of athleticism and defensive prowess to the court for the Women of Troy. The 26th-ranked high school player in the country will be reunited with Mater Dei teammate Alexyz Vaioletama this fall. Vaioletama and Alofaituli, along with Deanna Calhoun, Ariya Crook-Williams and Kate Oliver comprise Cooper’s highly ranked recruiting class.

Alofaituli originally committed to Arizona State and thus will not be eligible for the Women of Troy’s 2011-12 campaign. However, Alofaituli, a Tustin, Calif. resident, remains upbeat about the prospect of playing in Los Angeles under the tutelage of Cooper.

“I love USC and I love coach Cooper and the coaching staff,” Alofaituli said. “It also makes a huge difference for me to be close to home and my family. USC is just an amazing school all around, and I’m so happy to be here now.”

The Women of Troy will tip off the season Nov. 11 against Fresno State.