Albany High School Hoops Star Calhoun Signs With USC

It didn't take long for Deanna Calhoun to figure out where she wanted to play her college basketball. When the senior center/forward visited the University of Southern California earlier this year, she fell immediately in love.

"I just got this feeling," Calhoun said. "It's hard to explain. I knew that was where I was supposed to be."

In a small ceremony at Albany High on Wednesday, Calhoun signed a Letter of Intent, officially committing herself to playing for the Trojans next year. Calhoun verbally committed to USC in June, but Wednesday's signing officially ended the recruitment process. 

She was joined in the school gym by family, friends, coaches, teammates and teachers. Attendees ate cake, took pictures and looked on as Calhoun put pen to paper.

"I want to say congratulations to Deanna and her family, but I also want to say congratulations to USC and their coaches," Albany girls basketball coach Ray Newsome said. "They're getting a fantastic person."

More than 90 schools showed interest in Deanna, her father Derik said. When the recruitment process began, Deanna expected to take her time in making the decision, in the end, it was easy to make up her mind.

"The most important thing was for this to be her decision," Derik Calhoun said. "A lot of people frowned on the fact that she committed so early, but she knew SC was where she wanted to be.

"She was in love."

Any criticism of Calhoun's decision to commit so early in the process was likely due to the fact an early commitment kept her from visiting other schools. But Calhoun said she had already seen enough.

"With the coaching staff there, I just felt like I could really talk to them," she said. "It wasn't all business like it was with other coaches. It was more personal."

Calhoun, who is the 34th-ranked forward in the class of 2010 according to ESPN.com, joins a Trojans signing class that includes Alexyz Vaioletama, the No. 6 forward, and Ariya Crook-Williams, the No. 3 guard. The Trojans finished 19-12 last year in coach Michael Cooper's first season but did not make the NCAA tournament. 

"Coach Cooper told her that her experience there will be what she makes it," said Leroy Hurt, who coaches Calhoun's AAU team, the California Ballaz. "She'll get every opportunity to prove herself."

Calhoun, a bruising inside player, said she doesn't know what her role will be next season, but she hopes to provide leadership, even as a freshman. And now that the recruitment is over, she can return her focus to playing for Albany High.

Said Calhoun: "I gotta go out with a bang."