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Recruiting rundown: USC, Auburn boost backcourts in big classes

jt-terrell

Mike Miller

No one will confuse Auburn or USC’s current teams as juggernauts. Both the Tigers and the Trojans have relatively large talent infusions set for next season, and each program added a significant verbal commitment from a guard, last week.

USC’s new pledge, Brendyn Taylor of Fairfax (Calif.), is a solid rising addition from USC’s backyard, and a player capable of playing both guard slots. With JC transfer J.T. Terrell (pictured) expected to contribute from day one at shooting guard, Taylor’s earliest impact could come as a reserve that gives a different look at point guard, or a scoring presence at shooting guard.

Taylor is no stranger to the Pac-12, as he is the younger brother of Bryce Taylor, a former Oregon player. He was perhaps not as heavily recruited as he should have been, due to missing time on the hardwood due to transferring to Fairfax. Still, he’s got good bloodlines and should develop into a building block program player for the Trojans.

Auburn also made an interesting pickup in guard Brian Greene Jr. He’s a 6-3 native of Chicago who reportedly made the call for the Tigers after an official trip to campus. Greene was starting to get some solid attention from high-major programs during his post-graduate year at IMG Academy (Fla.) before committing to Auburn. He’s steadily improved while training at IMG Academy, but it remains to be seen how he’ll be used in the building Auburn program.

The Tigers previously held pledges from two relatively known quantities on the wing in electric athlete Shaquille Johnson and physical scorer Jordan Price, so perhaps Greene will find his niche in the backcourt at Auburn. With that said, the added depth certainly cannot hurt Auburn going forward.

Kellon Hassenstab runs Hoopniks.com. Follow him on Twitter @hoopniks.