Desmond Claude

Desmond Claude
	Desmond Claude (Left) in Michigan in 2024
No. 1 – USC Trojans
Position	Point guard / shooting guard
League	Big Ten Conference
Personal information
Born	May 30, 2003 (age 21); Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	201 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school	Hillhouse; (New Haven, Connecticut); Putnam Science Academy; (Putnam, Connecticut);
College	Xavier (2022–2024); USC (2024–present);
Career highlights and awards
	Big East Most Improved Player (2024); Big East All-Freshman Team (2023);

Desmond Allen Claude (born May 30, 2003) is an American college basketball player for the USC Trojans of the Big Ten Conference. He previously played for the Xavier Musketeers.

Early life and high school career

Claude was born in Syracuse, New York, and grew up in New Haven, Connecticut. He initially attended Hillhouse High School before transferring to Putnam Science Academy for his senior season.^[1] Claude played AAU for Todd Quarles at Expressions Elite. Claude was rated a four-star recruit and committed to playing college basketball for Xavier over offers from Kansas and Louisville.^[2] He reaffirmed his commitment to Xavier after head coach Travis Steele who recruited Claude was fired.^[3]

College career

Claude was a key reserve during his freshman season. His playing time increased over the course of the season and he scored at least ten points in five of the Musketeers' last 11 games.^[4] Claude was named to the Big East Conference All-Freshman team after averaging 4.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.^[5]^[6] Claude started all 34 Musketeers' games as a sophomore averaging 16.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.^[7] Claude was named the Big East Conference Most Improved Player and Led the Big East Conference in scoring for the month of March 2024.^[8]^[9] Following the season he transferred to USC.^[10]

Personal life

Claude's mother, Paula Moore, played college basketball at Syracuse University and his father, Chris Rivers, played at Fairfield University.^[11]

References

^ Jacobs, Jeff (September 18, 2021). "Basketball recruit Desmond Claude getting attention of college coaches at Putnam Science". CTInsider.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
^ London, Dushawn (January 20, 2022). "Xavier lands four-star point guard Desmond Claude". 247Sports. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
^ Baum, Adam (April 3, 2022). "Xavier commit Desmond Claude announces he's sticking with the Musketeers". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
^ "'I want to make the big jump.' Desmond Claude eyes bigger role for Xavier basketball". Cincinnati Enquirer. August 31, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
^ "Xavier basketball: Observations from 2nd week of fall practice". Cincinnati Enquirer. October 5, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
^ Borges, David (October 29, 2023). "Claude among key CT players in Big East". CTInsider.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
^ "Desmond Claude - Men's Basketball". USC Athletics. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
^ "Claude, Big East's Most Improved, to join USC". ESPN.com. May 2, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
^ "Desmond Claude - Men's Basketball". Xavier University Athletics. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
^ Dermer, Shelby (May 2, 2024). "Report: Xavier transfer Desmond Claude lands with Eric Musselman's USC Trojans". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
^ "New Haven product Desmond Claude happy with commitment to Xavier: 'It was a better overall fit'". CTInsider.com. February 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2023.

External links

[1] Jacobs, Jeff (September 18, 2021). "Basketball recruit Desmond Claude getting attention of college coaches at Putnam Science". CTInsider.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.

[2] London, Dushawn (January 20, 2022). "Xavier lands four-star point guard Desmond Claude". 247Sports. Retrieved December 13, 2023.

[3] Baum, Adam (April 3, 2022). "Xavier commit Desmond Claude announces he's sticking with the Musketeers". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved December 13, 2023.

[4] "'I want to make the big jump.' Desmond Claude eyes bigger role for Xavier basketball". Cincinnati Enquirer. August 31, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.

[5] "Xavier basketball: Observations from 2nd week of fall practice". Cincinnati Enquirer. October 5, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.

[6] Borges, David (October 29, 2023). "Claude among key CT players in Big East". CTInsider.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.

[7] "Desmond Claude - Men's Basketball". USC Athletics. Retrieved August 19, 2024.

[8] "Claude, Big East's Most Improved, to join USC". ESPN.com. May 2, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.

[9] "Desmond Claude - Men's Basketball". Xavier University Athletics. Retrieved August 19, 2024.

[10] Dermer, Shelby (May 2, 2024). "Report: Xavier transfer Desmond Claude lands with Eric Musselman's USC Trojans". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved December 7, 2024.

[11] "New Haven product Desmond Claude happy with commitment to Xavier: 'It was a better overall fit'". CTInsider.com. February 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2023.

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