Liam Campbell, Avery Howell are new USC Trojans as Idaho's top basketball recruits

BOISE, Idaho - Avery Howell and Liam Campbell are the state’s highest-rated girls and boys basketball prospects, respectively.

And on Wednesday, the Boise and Owyhee High School senior basketball standouts are both now officially headed to the same place.

They each held separate early signing-day ceremonies to sign their national letter of intent to play for USC.

“I think that’s actually super cool,” Howell said. “I don’t think Idaho’s ever had that before. So I’m excited. It’s cool to go in knowing someone.”

Howell even used a $200 pen to commemorate the occasion. It was given to her by Boise High assistant coach Ron Marthe.

“I’m just responsible for not losing it,” Howell said with a laugh.

But Howell is worth the investment.

She is the state’s highest-rated recruit - boy or girl. ESPN currently lists her as a five-star prospect and No. 23 overall.

Howell shot up 22 spots from June by having an impressive showing this summer with Meta Hoops on the AAU circuit.

She was leading rebounder and the breakout MVP of the Addias’ Circuit with 19.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. Howell also played overseas in Italy and Turkey by being one of the top-20 players on the Adidas' Circuit.

And Howell picked up 23 offers alone during that period to run her total to approximately 43.

But she whittled them down to five in August. Her final five were Duke, Indiana, Utah, Washington and of course USC, which she committed to on Oct. 6.

Howell said one of the biggest reasons for choosing USC was her instant connection with Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb

“When I was on my official visit, the team was super great. I felt really comfortable,” Howell said. “I loved campus. I’ve always loved California. It was just honestly super awesome.”

Howell, who is a two-time all-state player and the reigning Gatorade state player of the year, will join a program, which is now currently ranked 21st in the country. But before making the NCAA Tournament last season, the Trojans only had one appearance over the previous 15 years.

“I think they’re kind of in a rebuild stage right now. I think definitely me going there is going to hopefully help them out a bit,” Howell said. “And I’m really excited to get going at USC."

Campbell, a four-star prospect and the 76th-rated recruit in the nation, grew up about 40 minutes from the USC campus and regularly attended games there as a kid. So it made sense as to why the 6-foot-4, 180-pound combo guard chose the Trojans over the likes of Stanford and St. Mary’s.

“USC has recruited me from the get go. I’ve had a great relationship with the coaching staff and I just want to be a part of a winning program who has eyes on the national championship every year,” Campbell said. “I want to be surrounded by the best to be the best. I think USC has all of that. And I’m from Southern California. So it's just pretty special for my family and I.”

He became one of the most sought-after players in the Northwest shortly after arriving in Idaho for his sophomore year. Campbell made all-tournament teams at Section 7 and the Classic at Damien - both of which are premier national tourneys. He then delivered the Storm a state championship in their first year of existence.

Campbell has gone on to become a 1,000-point scorer and a two-time all-state player there since.

He’ll have a chance this December to be just the second player ever to make three consecutive first-team all-tournament teams at the Classic at Damien. The only player to do so is Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Evan Mobley, who was also the third pick of the 2021 NBA Draft out of USC.

He’ll have the chance of potentially playing with some future NBA players himself in Isaiah Collier, who is the No. 1 recruit in the country, and Bronny James - the son of Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar, LeBron James.

“USC’s been really getting some top level guys,” Campbell said. “I just think it was really special that they continued to recruit me because obviously I’m not the biggest recruit, but they really like me. I just really believe that if you want to be the best, you have to surround yourself with the best and that’s on and off the court.”