USC Women’s Basketball Signs Five-Star Forward/Center Sara Okeke

USC Women’s Basketball Signs Five-Star Forward/Center Sara Okeke

April 15, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Okeke becomes the third five-star to join the Trojans ahead of the 2026-27 season.

LOS ANGELES - The USC women's basketball program continues to build one of the nation's premier recruiting classes, officially signing five-star forward/center Sara Okeke to its 2026 class.

Okeke becomes the third five-star recruit to join the Trojans ahead of the 2026-27 season, propelling USC to the No. 1 spot in ESPN's 2026 class rankings. The 6-foot-4 forward/center from Madrid, Spain played her final high school season in the United States at DME Academy.

"We could not possibly be any more excited to add Sara Okeke to the Trojan Women's Basketball family," said USC women's basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. "Sara is an elite talent who brings size, athleticism, skill and endless upside to our front court. She is relentless on both sides of the ball, as well as on the glass; her fit with our program is ideal. Beyond the court, Sara is an exceptional young woman with a story that I know will inspire many as she becomes a fixture in Los Angeles and amongst the USC community. We are thrilled that signing day is here, and that Sara is now officially a Trojan."

One of the most decorated international prospects in the class, Okeke was the standout performer at the FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket, earning MVP honors while leading Spain to a gold medal. She averaged 13.8 points on fifty-seven percent shooting and 7.1 rebounds across six games. She also earned All-Star recognition at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup and represented Spain at the just wrapped Nike Hoop Summit.

At the Hoop Summit in Portland, Okeke showcased her versatility and physicality, pulling down four rebounds to go along with four points off the bench. She shared the international stage with future Trojan teammate Sitaya Fagan, who represented Australia, and Saniyah Hall, the nation's No. 1 recruit, who competed for Team USA.

Okeke's dominance continued at DME Academy, where she helped lead her team to the 2026 Chipotle National Championship. As a senior, she earned Grind Session Player of the Year honors while anchoring one of the nation's top defenses. She led the conference in blocks per game, secured All-Defensive Team recognition and posted the top field goal percentage while ranking among the leaders in overall efficiency, earning All-Grind Team honors.

Known for her unique combination of size, agility and instinct, Okeke is a force in the paint with the ability to finish efficiently with both hands.

Okeke joins an elite USC recruiting class featuring Hall and Fagan, and will pair with returning standouts including JuJu Watkins, Jazzy Davidson and Kennedy Smith.