Class of 2024 Branson (Mo.) Link Academy small forward Jalen Shelley has committed to USC men’s basketball, he announced Friday. Shelley is the second player to join Eric Musselman‘s 2024 high school recruiting class at USC along with Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon four-star small forward Isaiah Elohim. Both Shelley and Elohim committed to USC after initially signing with Arkansas when Musselman was coaching there.
Shelley, who stands at 6-foot-8 and weighs 190 pounds, is the No. 72 recruit nationally in the 2024 class and the No. 19 small forward in the 247Sports rankings.
Here’s a scouting report on Shelley from 247Sports.com analyst Brandon Jenkins:
Shelley is a long and lean lefty forward that is very talented. He has a good feel for the game and shows the ability to make plays with the ball in his hands. His offense usually comes in transition where he flourishes and has the instincts to make the right play. The biggest knock on him is his motivation to play with an elite motor. Shelley has the upside to play the game of basketball on an elite level but needs to add more aggression to his play. Asserting himself on a consistent basis and showing progression in transforming his potential into production will be vital and increase his chances of making an immediate impact in Los Angeles.
The addition of Shelley gives USC 10 scholarship players heading into next season. Shelley joins UMass transfer Josh Cohen, Penn transfer Clark Slajchert, UC San Diego transfer Bryce Pope, Dartmouth transfer Matt Knowling, Northern Colorado transfer Saint Thomas, Bowling Green transfer Rashaun Agee, Boise State transfer Chibuzo Agbo and Elohim as the nine new additions for Musselman so far. Returning forward Harrison Hornery is USC’s other scholarship player.
USC has three more scholarships to use for the 2024-25 season, so expect more additions in the future. The college basketball transfer portal opened March 18 and will close the last day of April. Players who enter the NBA Draft and also the transfer portal electing to go through the pre-draft process while maintaining their collegiate eligibility have until May 29 to withdraw from the draft and return to school. With that date in mind, it’s possible USC’s roster won’t be finalized until June.
CURENT USC MEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER:
F Harrison Hornery | 6-10, 230 | Sr.
F Josh Cohen | 6-10, 220 | Sr.
F Matt Knowling | 6-6, 200 | Sr.
F Saint Thomas | 6-7, 200 | Sr.
F Rashaun Agee | 6-8, 225 | Sr.
F Jalen Shelley | 6-8, 190 | Fr.
F Isaiah Elohim | 6-5, 190 | Fr.
G Clark Slajchert | 6-1, 170 | Sr.
G Bryce Pope | 6-3, 185 | Sr.
G Chibuzo Agbo | 6-7, 226 | Sr.
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