USC Dealt Unfortunate Recruiting News on Monday

Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans missed out on one of their top recruiting targets in the 2026 class with a surprise announcement on Monday.

Elite cornerback recruit Havon Finney Jr., a Los Angeles native, was scheduled for an official visit with the Trojans later this summer. But on Monday, the standout CB for the Sierra Canyon School announced his commitment to Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers.

Finney announced his commitment live on 247Sports.com. The announcement was initially scheduled to narrow his options down to a top-3, but he instead chose to surprise his mother with a commitment to the Tigers for her birthday.

USC wasn't the only program to miss out on Finney. The talented cornerback took a visit with the Oregon Ducks for their Junior Day earlier this year. He also had an official visit scheduled with the reigning-champion Ohio State Buckeyes.

"This process has been great, it's a blessing," Finney said. "It's always been a dream of mine to get to this point, and now I'm here."

"LSU was an easy choice for me," he added. "The coaching staff, the environment and alumni base that they have. I can build connections on and off the field there."