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USC Trojans forward Kiki Iriafen had a big season with the Stanford Cardinals and will look to continue her momentum with the Trojans. After three campaigns at her former program, Iriafen entered the transfer portal on April 12.
She stayed in the portal for two weeks before returning to her hometown of Los Angeles. After her basketball companion Cameron Brink went to the WNBA, Iriafen teamed up with basketball sensation JuJu Watkins at USC.
Iriafen was Pac-12's most improved player last season and was named to the All-Pac-12 team.
5 reasons why USC's Kiki Iriafen will have a breakout year in the 2024-2025 season
#1. Kiki Iriafen's evolution over three seasons
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In her freshman 2021 season at Stanford, Iriafen averaged 4.2 points and 2.2 rebounds. By her sophomore season, she played 35 games for Stanford and averaged 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds.
The 2023-24 season saw a sharp rise in her statistics, as she averaged 19.4 points, 11 rebounds and 2.3 assists over 36 games. Given her drastic improvement, the USC star will aim to build on her performance in the coming season.
#2. Prolific scoring ability last season
The 6-foot-3 forward shot 54.6% from the field and her 3-point shooting ability saw a remarkable change, with 33.3% last season. She hadn't made a shot from beyond the arc in her first two seasons at Stanford.
Her all-around performance helped her team reach the Sweet 16. Riding on the wave of confidence will help her sharpen the blade of her shooting prowess in the upcoming season.
3. Iriafen will form a deadly pair with JuJu Watkins
USC lacked a second reliable scorer, which played a part in their exit from the Elite Eight last season. Iriafen will help fill that void, and her game will benefit from playing alongside Watkins.
Watkins averaged 27.1 points and 7.3 rebounds last season and scored 27.5 points per game in the four tournament games of 2024 March Madness.
#4. Iriafen will join the wounded lions of the USC Trojans
USC had a 29-6 record last season. They entered the March Madness tournament as the No. 1 seed but were eliminated by No. 3 UConn in the Elite Eight.
The program is hungry to bounce back, and Kiki Iriafen's game will gain strength from joining a strong team. Tara Van Der Veer retired from Stanford this year, and Kiki will be in the safe hands of Lindsay Gottlieb at USC.
#5. Iriafen will shine before the WNBA draft
Kiki Iriafen has one more year of college eligibility left and is expected to maximize her performance before entering the big league. A successful season, with a national championship win, would be a feather in her cap when she enters the WNBA draft. Many experts predict her to be a first-round pick in 2026.
How deadly do you think the pair of Iriafen and Watkins will be in the next season? Let us know in the comments section below.
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