USC signs two highly touted high school players

Two high school players who led their teams to state championships have committed to USC.

USC coach Jeff Nygaard announced Tuesday that high school seniors Jameson McKibbin and Brandon Browning have signed national letters of intent to play for the Trojans beginning in the 2019 season.

McKibbin, a 6-foot-3 setter from Honolulu, earned all-league honors and made the All-Tournament Team as he helped his school win the Hawaii state championship in his junior season. He also won back-to-back high school state championships in beach volleyball and was a member of the 2017 USA Volleyball High Performance Youth A1 Team.

Along with his accolades, McKibbin has four relatives with ties to USC volleyball. Among those family members includes his older brother and All-American setter Riley McKibbin who helped USC reach the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and 2011.

Browning, a 6-foot-6 outside attacker from Corona del Mar, California, had 259 kills and 25 aces in his 2017 high school season that ended with the junior earning all-state honors and a state title. In addition, Browning was a member of the U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team that competed at the FIVB U19 World Championship in August.

USC in Nygaard’s second year as the head coach finished last season at No. 11 in the national coaches poll and advanced to the MPSF Tournament quarterfinals.