USC Welcomes Kiki Alofaituli To Troy
September 23, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Sept. 23, 2011
USC women's basketball has received another boost of local talent with the addition of Kiki Alofaituli to the Trojan program. The Mater Dei High standout combines forces once again with her two-time state champ teammate Alexyz Vaioletama as the pair set up as freshmen with the Women of Troy along with three other USC newcomers as the nation's No. 8 ranked class of 2011 talent.
A 6-1 forward, Alofaituli was nationally ranked as the No. 26 player overall as a senior at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, Calif. The highly touted forward rounds out a class of five newcomers to the Trojan program. In addition to her fellow Mater Dei teammate Vaioletama, Alofaituli joins freshmen Deanna Calhoun and Ariya Crook-Williams as California representatives to the new class, along with junior transfer Kate Oliver -- an Australian who comes to USC from Marist.
"We're really excited to have Kiki as a part of our Trojan family," USC head coach Michael Cooper said. "She is a great athlete and a very tenacious defender, which fits well into our coaching philosophy. She's also a great teammate and she knows the game, and being a California kid, we're really glad to have her here with us."
Alofaituli originally committed to Arizona State early in her recruiting process, and is not eligible to compete in her freshman season at USC, but the Tustin, Calif., resident is happy and content with her new home here at Troy under the guidance of coach Cooper and his staff.
"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."
"It's unfortunate she has to miss a year, but this is a good opportunity for her to learn more about her teammates and coaches, and she really makes us better in practice," coach Cooper said.
