Five-Star Recruit Sara Okeke Commits to USC Trojans

Spanish forward Sara Okeke joins top-ranked 2026 class, excited for next season

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:51pm by

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a basketball game, with overlapping planes of vibrant red, yellow, and blue colors representing the Spanish national team and USC's cardinal and gold.The dynamic commitment of five-star recruit Sara Okeke to the USC Trojans signals the program's rise as a national power.Portland Today

Five-star forward Sara Okeke has committed to play for the USC Trojans women's basketball team next season. Okeke, a 6-4 Spanish forward who played her senior year at DME Academy in Florida, is ranked as the No. 5 player in the 2026 class by ESPN. She chose USC after an eventful recruiting process, citing the coaching staff, team, and overall fit as the key factors in her decision.

Why it matters

Okeke's commitment is a major boost for the USC Trojans, who are building a formidable 2026 recruiting class. Along with Okeke, the Trojans have also landed the No. 1 overall recruit Saniyah Hall and five-star Sitiya Fagan. This influx of top-tier talent should make USC a national title contender next season.

The details

Okeke represented Spain at the 2026 Nike Hoop Summit, where she played alongside future USC teammates Fagan and Hall. She impressed with her ability to crash the boards, hauling in 4 rebounds to go with 4 points off the bench. Okeke said the chance to play with great players and learn from the coaching staff was a big draw in her decision to commit to USC.

  • Okeke announced her commitment to USC on March 17, 2026.
  • Okeke participated in the 2026 Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon in April 2026.

The players

Sara Okeke

A 6-4 Spanish forward who played her senior year at DME Academy in Florida. Okeke is a five-star recruit ranked as the No. 5 player in the 2026 class by ESPN.

Lindsay Gottlieb

The head coach of the USC Trojans women's basketball team, who secured Okeke's commitment to the program.

Saniyah Hall

The No. 1 overall recruit in the 2026 class, who will be joining Okeke on the USC Trojans next season.

Sitiya Fagan

A five-star recruit in the 2026 class, who will also be part of the Trojans' incoming freshman class alongside Okeke and Hall.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I think I was looking for different things at the time of choosing a school, and I think that when I did the Zoom, and also my visit in general, I think it was the perfect fit for me and the girls, the coach. I really like the coach, staff, everything. It was just a mix of everything.”

— Sara Okeke, Five-Star Recruit

“It was really exciting games to play really good players of all parts of the world. I think it's a huge opportunity being able to represent my country. I think my goals during this week is just getting to learn from them and have fun.”

— Sara Okeke, Five-Star Recruit

“I think it's a huge opportunity, giving more visibility (to Spain).”

— Sara Okeke, Five-Star Recruit

“Just starting with great players, I want to get to learn from them also, and I think we have a really good team. I just expect for next year to have fun, win a lot of games, and I think it's going to be a great season.”

— Sara Okeke, Five-Star Recruit

What’s next

Okeke and the rest of the Trojans' highly-touted 2026 recruiting class will look to make an immediate impact when they take the court next fall.

The takeaway

The addition of five-star forward Sara Okeke, along with fellow top recruits Saniyah Hall and Sitiya Fagan, has the USC Trojans poised to be a national title contender in the 2026-27 season. Okeke's international experience and desire to learn from her talented new teammates have the Trojans' coaching staff excited about the team's potential.