5 things to know about Chloe Kitts, a 5-star USC signee who’ll be on campus this week
The No. 1 South Carolina women’s basketball team is adding yet another top recruit to its roster — and it won’t have to wait long for her arrival.
Five-star forward Chloe Kitts is arriving on USC’s campus this week after finishing up high school classes and graduating early.
Kitts told The State that she plans to sit with the team Sunday at Colonial Life Arena for the game against Liberty. She will spend her first month training and acclimating herself to Columbia.
Her college eligibility begins in spring 2023 after she’s enrolled full-time in classes. If or when she sees playing time this season is to be determined.
Here are five things to know about the incoming USC freshman.
KITTS TOOK VIRTUAL CLASSES IN HIGH SCHOOL
Kitts’ family is originally from Puyallup, Washington but moved to Oviedo, Florida after her third-grade year. Oviedo is just outside of Orlando.
She essentially home-schooled throughout her high school years, taking online classes through a program called Florida Virtual. This allowed Kitts to do classes on her own time while continuing to improve her game in the gym.
Kitts did workouts in the morning while most people her age were in school, and she did her classwork in the evening.
She played basketball for DME Academy in Daytona Beach during her sophomore and junior years of high school, and at The Master’s Academy in Oviedo during her freshman year.
SHE TRAINED WITH HER FATHER
Kitts’ father, Jason, was the first to train her once he saw her interest in the game. He noticed her desire to play basketball before she reached kindergarten.
He began a nonprofit wellness and community organization in Oveido in 2016 during her basketball development called CHB Global Corp. Jason Kitts also participated in similar local programs in Washington.
It began as a way to get gym time to work on her game, as it was difficult to find courts to play on when they arrived in Florida. The Kitts family, with help from others in the area, began to run developmental programs to help youth in the area work on their basketball fundamentals.
The kids learn basic skills such as pivoting and layups, and they work on different aspects of their game in a 75-minute period.
Kitts herself has helped out at CHB Global Corp for two years, teaching different skills to second- and third-graders.
KITTS IS A GOLD MEDALIST
Kitts played for the star-studded 2022 FIBA Women’s U18 National Team, alongside players such as Kiki Rice, Aalyah Del Rosario and others. Eight of the players she played with are currently on Power Five rosters.
She and the squad won the gold medal. She averaged 7.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and two steals per game over the course of six games.
Kitts won’t be the only Gamecock with international experience. Aliyah Boston won the FIBA U17 World Cup as well as the 3x3 U18 National championship, and most recently made the training camp roster for the USA Basketball women’s national team.
Laeticia Amihere began playing for Team Canada in 2015 and was on the team this past summer as well. Kamilla Cardoso won a gold medal with Brazil in the 2022 FIBA South America Championship.
KITTS GREW UP WITH ANOTHER TOP 2023 RECRUIT
In her early years of playing basketball, Kitts competed with Southern Cal commit Malia Samuels.
Samuels’ and Kitts’ dads knew each other, and they had the two play against boys until there were girls their age who could compete with them.
The two played against second-grade boys as kindergartners while in Washington.
Samuels’ father is a DJ at Seattle Seahawks games, and goes by DJ SupaSam.
KITTS FIRST MET DAWN STALEY IN 2015
Kitts first met USC head coach Dawn Staley in October 2015 in Daytona Beach.
Kitts and her dad were at a viewing event for middle school players. Her dad knew someone who helped organize the event, and they let her compete against the sixth-graders.
Staley was among the coaches in attendance, and took a photo with her future signee.
