Representing the United States, USC Trojans incoming freshmen Kayleigh Heckel and Kennedy Smith teamed up to help Team USA win gold at the 2024 FIBA U-18 AmeriCup in Colombia. The duo combined for 31 points in the final game as the USA won its 11th straight gold with an 80-69 victory over Canada.
A 5-9 guard out of Port Chester (New York), Heckel averaged 12.8 points per game along with 3.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game as Team USA went undefeated.
A 6-1 guard from Chino (California), Smith averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game and was named finals MVP with 18 points which led Team USA.
Both McDonald’s All-Americans, Heckel and Smith are two members of USC’s top-ranked freshman class who will join forces with their fellow Women of Troy for the coming 2024-25 campaign under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. Getting two high-impact freshmen with JuJu Watkins, Kiki Iriafen, and Talia von Oelhoffen will make the Trojans a frontline Final Four contender in 2025. It’s an exciting time to be a USC women’s basketball fan.
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