The recruiting world is watching as Oliviyah Edwards, the towering 6’3″ forward ranked No. 2 in the 2026 class by several recruiting sites, shapes what could be one of the most impactful college decisions in recent women’s basketball.
She narrowed her list to six powerhouse programs this week, but one school has a secret weapon that others can’t match — superstar JuJu Watkins is personally recruiting her to Los Angeles and USC.
How Is JuJu Watkins Helping USC Recruit Oliviyah Edwards?
Edwards took her official visit to USC earlier this year, and the experience left her genuinely impressed. The connection with Watkins stood out as something special during her time in Los Angeles.
“I’ve talked to Juju [Watkins] too. She would be my teammate if I went there,” Edwards said in a recent interview with Rivals.
Elite 2026 recruit Oliviyah Edwards broke down her six finalists with @Rivals.
Finalists: South Carolina, USC, LSU, Tennessee, Florida, Washington
READ (+): https://t.co/8pXNP9IWRu pic.twitter.com/4XHYfsBLj8
— Talia Goodman (@TaliaGoodmanWBB) August 17, 2025
Beyond her connection with Watkins, Edwards was drawn to the family atmosphere that head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has built with the Trojans. The visit gave her a glimpse into how the program operates off the court.
“I like the way they’re so family-oriented,” she explained. “When I went on my official visit there, they had us at Lindsay’s house, and it was home-cooked food, and it was just the family vibe. I was sitting on the couch, and I was playing with Reese [Gottlieb’s kid], and I got to drive in one of the kids’ cars. I really enjoy that family type of vibe.”
The recruiting battle is far from over, though. Edwards has official visits lined up at Tennessee from September 12-14, followed by South Carolina from September 19-21. She’ll also visit LSU from October 9-12.
Edwards told Yahoo Sports she plans to complete all her official visits before making her final decision, with an announcement expected closer to November.
What Makes Edwards and Watkins’ Connection So Natural?
USC’s recruitment push got an extra boost when Edwards joined Watkins on the Overtime podcast. The conversation flowed with the kind of ease that showed these two had already clicked on a personal level.
Edwards steered their chat toward life beyond basketball, asking Watkins about her future goals and dreams. “I probably wanna bungee jump or backpack through Europe,” Watkins said.
Edwards laughed at the response. “So, you’re chill but you’re risky, why?”
“Just live life, just travel. Just turn off your phone,” Watkins replied.
Edwards then opened up about her own ambitions outside the game. “At some point, I wanna do tattoos… be like a scientist of some sort, forensic… also run my own clothing line,” she said.
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This natural chemistry between Edwards and Watkins gives USC a recruiting advantage that can’t be manufactured. The Trojans know that genuine connections like this can tip the scales in high-stakes recruiting battles. Not only that, but if Edwards decided to join the Trojans, that chemistry would also certainly help on the court.
What Has Made Edwards Such a Coveted Recruit?
Edwards first burst onto the national scene when she threw down a dunk as a seventh grader, instantly putting her on recruiting radars across the country. Since then, she’s developed into one of the most recognizable young forwards in women’s basketball.
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She currently stars for Elite Sports Academy in Washington state and has made her mark competing on the Adidas 3SSB circuit with the Northwest Greyhounds. Her combination of size, athleticism, and skill has attracted offers from the nation’s premier programs, setting up what promises to be one of the most closely watched recruiting decisions in the 2026 class.
With USC, South Carolina, LSU, Tennessee, Washington, and Florida all vying for her commitment, Edwards holds all the cards. However, USC’s unique advantage in having Watkins actively involved in the recruitment could prove to be the difference maker when decision time arrives in November.
