Archbishop Stepinac High School’s twin brothers, Adonis and Darius Ratliff, committed on Wednesday to play for the University of Southern California Trojans, ending months of speculation as to where two of the nation’s top high school players would land. 

At a commitment event streamed live on CBS from the White Plains school‘s gymnasium, the six-foot, 11-inch brothers, flanked by family members, pulled open their Stepinac jackets to reveal USC T-shirts, then donned Trojans caps to complete the reveal. 

The pair chose USC over the Universities of Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas. Darius is ranked 52nd on the ESPN Sportscenter NEXT 2026 Top 100, while Adonis appears at 86th on the same list. Darius missed part of the 2024-25 season with a foot injury. Only Long Island Lutheran High School’s Dylan Mingo ranks higher among New York prospects, at ninth. 

“We felt like they wanted us the most out of all the schools. They kept in contact every day. They asked us who we wanted to play with, showed us how they wanted to play us on defense and offense. We felt the love, so we decided to commit to USC,” Adonis said in an interview with 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein immediately after the reveal. 

USC’s unexpected appeal 

Coached by former NBA coach Eric Musselman, USC seems like the least obvious choice for two players who had other, more prominent options. USC finished 16-17 during the 2024-25 season and missed the NCAA tournament in Musselman’s first year. Alabama went to the Elite Eight under Coach Nate Oats. Arkansas is coached by John Calipari, one of men’s college basketball’s most successful coaches, who had previously recruited Stepinac standout Johnuel “Boogie” Fland, who transferred to Florida after one season. The twins made it clear they wanted to play together, as they have throughout their academic career. 

“We would like to thank God for blessing us with the opportunity to go to school for free, for putting us in the position. Nothing would be possible without His guidance and His faith to keep us going every day,” Adonis said. The boys also thanked their parents and family, coaches, and trainers. 

Following in their father’s footsteps 

Theo Ratliff, the boys’ father, played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association for nine different teams and was known particularly for his play on defense. 

The Ratliffs join teammate Hassan Kouriessi among Crusaders who have committed to schools ahead of the November 12 National Signing Day for NCAA Division I and II sports. Kouriessi, named the most valuable player of the Catholic High School Athletic Association vs. Public School Athletic League boys’ basketball “AA” championship game in March, said he would attend and play for Fordham University next fall. More commits are expected by the November 12 deadline, namely Jasiah Jervis, Dylan Perry, and Josh Rivera. 

During the 2024-25 season, Stepinac won the archdiocesan, intersectional, and CHSAA vs. PSAL championships, along with a second Coach of the Year award for Patrick Massaroni. Stepinac is considered one of the top 25 boys’ basketball teams in the United States. The 2025-26 CHSAA “AA” boys’ basketball season begins in mid-November. Stepinac opens the season away at Xavier High School in Manhattan.