Archbishop Stepinac High School senior Josh Rivera committed on Wednesday to play for the University of Southern California Trojans, marking the second consecutive year that a top prospect from the White Plains high school has signed with the Los Angeles university. 

At a commitment event streamed live from the White Plains school‘s gymnasium, the six-foot-five Rivera, flanked by family members, pulled open his jacket to reveal a USC T-shirt, to the cheers of assembled guests, teammates, and classmates. 

Rivera chose USC over offers from schools including the University of Massachusetts, where former Stepinac teammate Danny Carbuccia is playing this season, and Hofstra University. Rivera, who plays small forward, is ranked 87nd on the ESPN Sportscenter NEXT 2027 Top 100.

Despite missing the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in 2026, the pre-season Associated Press poll ranks USC 21st, with the Coaches Poll putting them at 22. Part of that appeal is due to the addition of Stepinac’s former “Twin Towers,” brothers Adonis and Darius Ratliff, who both stand six-foot-11, and both of whom were McDonald’s All-Americans last season. Rivera would join them next fall, should the Ratliffs not choose to enter the transfer portal and play for another university. 

The USC Trojans open their season at home against unranked Milwaukee on Saturday, Nov. 2. Stepinac also opens at home on Saturday, Nov. 28, against St. Frances Academy of Maryland in a non-conference game. 

During the 2024-25 season, Stepinac won the archdiocesan, intersectional, and CHSAA vs. PSAL championships, along with a third Coach of the Year award for Patrick Massaroni. Stepinac is considered one of the top boys basketball teams in the United States, finishing sixth in 2025-26 in the MaxPreps national rankings.

Founded in 1948, all-male Archbishop Stepinac has about 800 students.