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Graham highlights SoCal commitments

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - Ten prospects who are affiliated with the Ground Zero 7-on-7 team sat on the dais one-by-one and announced their college commitments.
It was a night of celebration, thrills, excitement and even some tears as many top recruits made verbal pledges, including 2017 four-star Thomas Graham from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., who picked USC over UCLA, Arizona State, Oklahoma and many other offers.
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Ever since the Trojans offered last week when Graham was on campus for the Rising Stars Camp it was almost a no-brainer he would pick them. His sister is going to USC to run track and the two have talked openly about staying together for college.
On Wednesday night, Graham made the early decision. It was not a tough choice at all - this is a kid who wore a Reggie Bush jersey to school almost every day.
Still, it was an emotional night filled with a lot of big decisions and even some tears.
"The biggest attraction to USC is the tradition there," Graham said. "It's a very strong tradition and you can tell because the alumni won't even let them change their facemask to chrome.
"Coach (Steve) Sarkisian did a great job and won at Washington and that's what he's bringing to USC."
Graham, rated as a four-star cornerback by Rivals.com, is coming off a strong performance at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge Presented by Under Armour in Baltimore. He was the headliner of the event but many others made big announcements as well.
California snagged three-star defensive back Camryn Bynum out of Corona (Calif.) Centennial. Boise State, Washington State, San Diego State and many others were involved but Bynum loved too much about the Golden Bears to turn them down both academically and athletically.
"I just felt like it was the best fit for me and to further my education it's the best school," Bynum said. "Academics were a huge part because if football doesn't work out I want to be set for life."
Washington State loaded up with commitments from three-star wide receiver Grant Porter out of Upland, Calif., along with Perris (Calif.) Citrus Hill defensive back Skyler Thomas and 2017 standout defensive back Tayari Venable, also from Rancho Cucamonga.
"It's a Pac-12 offer and the depth chart for DBs is not that good so I could get on the field immediately once I get there," Venable said. "Right now I'm committed to Washington State so (if more offers) come, it comes."
Porter said: "One of the biggest reasons I chose Washington State (is) I had a good relationship with the coaches. I really liked them a lot. As a wide receiver, that's like wide receiver heaven… Wazzu came on me pretty hard at the beginning. I would like to give a shout out to coach (Ken) Wilson at Washington State. He's a terrific recruiter and I liked him a lot."
"It's always been my dream to be a Pac-12 player, I thought I had the ability so when I got the opportunity I jumped on it," Thomas said.
Another Pac-12 commitment on Wednesday night came from three-star defensive end Jabari Watson out of Fontana (Calif.) Summit, who picked Arizona over Boise State, San Diego State and others.
Watson could play defensive end or move inside and play tackle in college and he said the Wildcats have everything he was looking for on the defensive side.
"Jabari is a big dude but he practices like a skill player and plays like a skill player," Ground Zero coach Darnell Pugh said. "I can't wait to coach him this season. There are a lot of bright things to come for him in his future."
Watson said: "How tough the coaches were on me, how much they seemed to like me, how much they recruited me, I wanted to be a part of it for the next four years. I haven't visited Arizona but I have a visit set up for them. I want to thank coach Miguel Reveles for giving me this opportunity."
Three-star receiver JaQuan Blackwell, known for the No. 1 catch in the Rivals Camp Series, selected San Jose State over Utah in what was a surprise move. Blackwell said he felt confident he would fit in best with the Spartans.
Known as T.O. (Terrell Owens) by friends, the Perris Citrus Hill standout did not see his recruitment take off this spring and summer even after a fantastic offseason but he found his spot with San Jose State and will look to contribute early.
Blackwell has "glue hands," Ground Zero's Armond Hawkins said.
The others who committed were Corona (Calif.) Eleanor Roosevelt two-way prospect Cameron Smith and Rialto (Calif.) Wilmer Carter DB Marquise Green, who also both picked San Jose State. Assistant coach Donte Williams had a big night and Hawkins said Williams is "building a hell of a fence around the Inland Empire."
Redlands (Calif.) East Valley wide receiver C.J. Harris selected UNLV over Nevada, one of the more unpredictable pledges of the night. UNLV assistant coach Andy LaRussa played a big role in Harris' decision.
Hanging out on the side in Athletic Republic on Wednesday night was four-star receiver Damian Alloway, rated as the No. 110 prospect in the 2016 class by Rivals.com. UCLA looks to be the favorite but Notre Dame, Cal and Wisconsin round out his top four.
Alloway is not ready to commit just yet. But everybody is waiting. Another Ground Zero ceremony could be coming soon.
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