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USC went international for recruiting and landed the top ranked high school prospect from Puerto Rico.
Coach Bill Ferguson announced Thursday that Puerto Rican National Team opposite Jon Rivera to a national letter of intent to join the Trojans for the 2015 season.
Rivera, a 6-foot-4 opposite, was named the 2013 Player of the Year by the Puerto Rico High School Athletic Alliance after leading his team to back-to-back national championships. In addition, the high school senior spent time this year training with the Puerto Rican National Team and competing with former Trojan Juan Figueroa.
“Jon is the top prospect from Puerto Rico this year,” Ferguson said in a statement. “He jumps high, is long and has a great arm and outstanding range as an attacker. He is a solid blocker and can score from the service line. He is very grounded and humble and is a tireless worker.”
Along with Rivera, USC announced that high school senior Connor Inlow signed a letter of intent to play for the Trojans.
Inlow, a 6-foot-6 outside attacker from Manhattan Beach, Calif., helped lead his high school Mira Costa to the state championship in 2012. He also played for the Southern California Volleyball Club team that won a gold medal at the 2013 USA Volleyball Junior Olympics
“Connor is a competitor and a winner along the lines of the many Mira Costa players who have come to USC,” Ferguson said. “He has been a central force on all of his teams, getting the ball at critical situations and delivering.”
USC finished last season not qualifying for the eight-team MPSF Tournament but has reached the NCAA Tournament in three of the last five years.