Women of Troy Welcome Jillian Archer & Desiree Caldwell for 2018
November 08, 2017 | Women's Basketball, Features
Archer and Caldwell have signed NLIs to join Mark Trakh’s Trojans next season.
The USC women's basketball program has added two new members to the Trojan family, as head coach Mark Trakh announced the signings of Jillian Archer (Bishop Alemany HS/Santa Monica, Calif.) and Desiree Caldwell (Byron P. Steele II HS/San Antonio, Texas) to national letters of intent today (Nov. 8). Archer and Caldwell will bring much-needed depth to their respective positions once they arrive on campus, as both prep standouts are set to don the Cardinal and Gold in the fall of 2018.
"Desi is one of the top prep point guards in the country. She is very skilled, understands the game and is a pure point guard. She also has a great work ethic and is a great person as well," Trakh said. "Jillian brings a great skill set at the four position. She has 3-point range, can get to the basket and is an excellent athlete. Jillian is also a great person. Both of these young women are going to contribute to the program and the program's culture. They are also excellent students who will represent USC very well in and off the court."
Jillian Archer | 6-2 | Forward
Hometown:Â Santa Monica, Calif.
High School:Â Bishop Alemany HSÂ
Academic Interest:Â Kinesiology/Physical Therapy
A 6-2 forward from Santa Monica, Calif., Jillian Archer has made a name for herself as one of the best young rebounders and post players in the country. Ranked as the No. 47 overall player and No. 7 forward in the nation according to ESPN, Archer also currently ranks No.54 overall and as the No. 8 forward according to ProspectsNation. Archer averaged 11.4 points per game to go along with 10.3 rebounds per game as a junior at Bishop Alemany HS in Mission Hills.
"Jillian is an athletic and long frontcourt prospect who can impact the game through her rebounding, defending, and scoring in the paint," Trakh said of Archer.
Archer earned a spot on the All-CIF Southern Section Open Division First Team after she led her Lady Warriors to the CIF Southern California Division 1 Regional State Semifinals.
"One of the greatest compliments we heard about Jillian throughout her recruitment was that she operates from a place of gratitude," Trakh said. "She is a person who is genuinely appreciative of her opportunities and exudes humility and grace."
Desiree Caldwell | 5-6 | Guard
Hometown:Â San Antonio, Texas
High School: Byron P. Steele II HSÂ
Academic Interest:Â Business/Entrepreneurship
A 5-6 point guard, Desiree "Desi" Caldwell hails from San Antonio, Texas. Ranked the No. 13 guard and the No. 74 overall player in the country according to ESPN, Caldwell currently sits as the nation's No. 14 overall player and No. 5 guard in the land according to ProspectsNation. Caldwell is a quick and savvy floor general who brings multiple years of international experience to Troy, having been part of the USA Basketball U16 National Team where she set the U16 assists record during her play in the 2015 FIBA Americas Tournament Championship. In that tournament held in Puebla, Mexico, she helped Team USA bring home the bronze medal with a 4-1 record.
"Desiree exudes all the qualities we search for when we look for players to be a part of our women's basketball program," Trakh said of Caldwell. "She is a student-athlete with a strong sense of character and is a dedicated individual when it comes her studies and basketball."
Caldwell will play her senior year of basketball at Byron P. Steele II HS in Cibolo, Texas, after playing one varsity season at Claudia Taylor Johnson HS in San Antonio. As a freshman, Caldwell compiled 316 points, 46 rebounds, 33 assists, and 23 steals, shooting 38 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line.
Although Caldwell has spent the majority of her life in Texas, both of her parents are from California and surrounding Los Angeles areas. Her older sister, Recee, also started her collegiate basketball career at nearby UCLA before transferring to Texas Tech. Caldwell's international experience plus her extensive basketball background will serve her well when she arrives at USC.
"Desi is not only a great basketball player, but she will bring intangibles to our program, such as leadership, effort, passion, and competitiveness," Trakh said. "She will be a vocal leader and will also lead by example. Desi is a pivotal part of the direction we are looking to take our women's basketball program and she has the skill, ability and passion to continue to develop into one of the best true point guards in her class."
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"Desi is one of the top prep point guards in the country. She is very skilled, understands the game and is a pure point guard. She also has a great work ethic and is a great person as well," Trakh said. "Jillian brings a great skill set at the four position. She has 3-point range, can get to the basket and is an excellent athlete. Jillian is also a great person. Both of these young women are going to contribute to the program and the program's culture. They are also excellent students who will represent USC very well in and off the court."
Jillian Archer | 6-2 | Forward
Hometown:Â Santa Monica, Calif.
High School:Â Bishop Alemany HSÂ
Academic Interest:Â Kinesiology/Physical Therapy
A 6-2 forward from Santa Monica, Calif., Jillian Archer has made a name for herself as one of the best young rebounders and post players in the country. Ranked as the No. 47 overall player and No. 7 forward in the nation according to ESPN, Archer also currently ranks No.54 overall and as the No. 8 forward according to ProspectsNation. Archer averaged 11.4 points per game to go along with 10.3 rebounds per game as a junior at Bishop Alemany HS in Mission Hills.
"Jillian is an athletic and long frontcourt prospect who can impact the game through her rebounding, defending, and scoring in the paint," Trakh said of Archer.
Archer earned a spot on the All-CIF Southern Section Open Division First Team after she led her Lady Warriors to the CIF Southern California Division 1 Regional State Semifinals.
"One of the greatest compliments we heard about Jillian throughout her recruitment was that she operates from a place of gratitude," Trakh said. "She is a person who is genuinely appreciative of her opportunities and exudes humility and grace."
Desiree Caldwell | 5-6 | Guard
Hometown:Â San Antonio, Texas
High School: Byron P. Steele II HSÂ
Academic Interest:Â Business/Entrepreneurship
A 5-6 point guard, Desiree "Desi" Caldwell hails from San Antonio, Texas. Ranked the No. 13 guard and the No. 74 overall player in the country according to ESPN, Caldwell currently sits as the nation's No. 14 overall player and No. 5 guard in the land according to ProspectsNation. Caldwell is a quick and savvy floor general who brings multiple years of international experience to Troy, having been part of the USA Basketball U16 National Team where she set the U16 assists record during her play in the 2015 FIBA Americas Tournament Championship. In that tournament held in Puebla, Mexico, she helped Team USA bring home the bronze medal with a 4-1 record.
"Desiree exudes all the qualities we search for when we look for players to be a part of our women's basketball program," Trakh said of Caldwell. "She is a student-athlete with a strong sense of character and is a dedicated individual when it comes her studies and basketball."
Caldwell will play her senior year of basketball at Byron P. Steele II HS in Cibolo, Texas, after playing one varsity season at Claudia Taylor Johnson HS in San Antonio. As a freshman, Caldwell compiled 316 points, 46 rebounds, 33 assists, and 23 steals, shooting 38 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line.
Although Caldwell has spent the majority of her life in Texas, both of her parents are from California and surrounding Los Angeles areas. Her older sister, Recee, also started her collegiate basketball career at nearby UCLA before transferring to Texas Tech. Caldwell's international experience plus her extensive basketball background will serve her well when she arrives at USC.
"Desi is not only a great basketball player, but she will bring intangibles to our program, such as leadership, effort, passion, and competitiveness," Trakh said. "She will be a vocal leader and will also lead by example. Desi is a pivotal part of the direction we are looking to take our women's basketball program and she has the skill, ability and passion to continue to develop into one of the best true point guards in her class."
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