Oct 24, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Georgia Tech player Kara Dunn during the ACC Women s Tipoff at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

USC Trojans' First Transfer Portal Addition: Georgia Tech Guard Kara Dunn

Originally posted on USC Trojans on SI
By Gabriel Duarte | Last updated Apr 17, 2025 9:59 AM ET

After the USC Trojans suffered a season-ending loss to UConn in the Elite Eight, they saw a sudden exodus of talent hit the transfer portal. Key freshman contributors like guards Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel being among the most impactful losses to depart from the program.

USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb responded in a big way on Wednesday by picking up a key addition from the transfer portal in Georgia Tech guard Kara Dunn. She is the first player to commit to USC and was ranked as a four-star prospect in the portal according to 247Sports.

Dunn is a great way to fill a need for Gottlieb and USC. All four Trojans that entered the transfer portal were guards with Dominique Darius and Aaliyah Gayles joining Howell and Heckel.

A former ESPN four-star recruit who signed with Georgia Tech, spent three seasons with the Yellow Jackets. Dunn was arguably the best player for Georgia Tech over the past two season as she's averaged exactly 15.5 points per game in her sophomore and junior season.

Standing at 5-foot-11, Dunn has been no slouch on the boards. This past season, she averaged 5.8 rebounds per game and the season prior, Dunn averaged 4.6 rebounds on the season. Dunn has improved on the defensive end of the court on each year she's been in college. She went from averaging 0.8 steals per game as a freshman to a 0.9 average her sophomore year. As a junior, Dunn broke out and had 1.3 steals per game, a career-high.

Dunn comes to USC as one of the most highly-touted guards in the transfer portal. She was named to the All-ACC Second Team as a sophomore during the 2023-24 season and then followed it up with a All-ACC First team selection as a junior. Last season, she helped led Georgia Tech to only their No. 12 appearence in the NCAA Tournament.

Depending on how the rehab goes for USC guard JuJu Watkins's knee injury, the Trojans could trot out a backcourt of Watkins and Dunn next season. The two offensive-minded guards could be complemented well by the surrounding pieces the Trojans have returning.

Along with Watkins, the other standout returnee for the Trojans is fellow guard Kennedy Smith. As a true freshman, Smith battled injuries throughout the season but started in all 24 games she apeared in. She averaged 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game and was a real defensive stalwart for the Trojans. Smith kept opposing defenses on their toes and plucked 2.2 steals per game.

The combination of Watkins, Dunn, and Smith will be lethal on both ends of the court and with incoming freshman Jazzy Davidson, a combo guard, expected to see minutes early in her USC career, it could fill out the backcourt rotation for the Trojans.

This article first appeared on USC Trojans on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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