Christian Collins has announced his commitment to USC, with the small forward becoming the program’s third addition of the cycle. The five-star recruit out of Bellflower, Calif., also drew interest from several other colleges, including Louisville and Kentucky, but ultimately chose the Trojans.
Five-Star Recruit Christian Collins Commits to USC Trojans
Collins has established himself as one of the top prospects in the 2026 class, impressing with his performances for St. John Bosco High School in California. He has enjoyed a rapid rise this year and made visits to Oregon, Kentucky, Louisville, and UCLA before committing to USC.
For much of the process, Kentucky appeared to be the favorite, and Collins even referred to head coach Mark Pope as “a proud dad” in a recent interview with KSR. USC, however, regained momentum in his recruitment and secured his commitment.
NEWS: 5⭐️ Christian Collins has committed to USC, source told @Rivals.
The 6-8 small forward is a top-5 recruit in the 2026 class. Chose the Trojans over offers from Kentucky, Louisville, and others. https://t.co/ChyYWBn9Pb pic.twitter.com/JmcdrZDnil
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) March 18, 2026
Explaining his decision, Collins said he believes playing at USC will prepare him for the NBA. He also expressed confidence in head coach Eric Musselman’s ability to aid his development.
“I want to go where I can help a team win, and at USC, I feel I will have a major role. It is important for me to be prepared; I feel I will be prepared for the NBA because of my role,” Collins told ESPN after announcing his commitment.
“I was looking at where I could be challenged and develop. I watched [their] practices, and they were intense, and I learned a lot. Coach Muss [Musselman] and staff will challenge me. Coach Muss is a good coach, he is aggressive with player development, and he is down to earth off the court,” he added.
According to MaxPreps, Collins has averaged 26.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game this season. He is shooting 58% from the field and 43% from three-point range.
Collins becomes the third McDonald’s All-American to join USC in the 2026 class, following twins Adonis Ratliff and Darius Ratliff. These additions are expected to significantly reshape the recruiting landscape, transforming USC’s frontcourt into one of the strongest in the country.
After a difficult season in which the Trojans finished 12th in the Big Ten Conference and missed the NCAA Tournament, the roster is poised for a major transformation and will be one of the teams to watch in 2027.
