LOGAN, Utah – Utah State head women’s basketball coach Wesley Brooks announced the signing of Aaliyah Gayles on Monday.
“Aaliyah is a high character person, a winner, and a program-changing talent for us here at Utah State,” Brooks said. “Her ability to push pace, make decisions and attack will allow us to continue to play our uptempo style of basketball and attempt even more 3s next season. Her McDonald’s All-American experience as well as her deep tournament runs at USC will provide our program with a championship mentality.”
Gayles joins USU after spending the past three seasons at USC, appearing in 22 total games. Gayles made 15 appearances last season for the Trojans and posted a career-high five points in 10 minutes against CSUN alongside three assists and four steals, both also career highs. She returned in 2023-24 to appear in seven games for USC after redshirting the 2022-23 season due to injuries. Gayles was the recipient of the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards’ Honda Inspiration Award in 2023-24, and also received the Pac-12’s inaugural Tammy Blackburn Inspiration Award.
Gayles was ranked the No. 8 player in the nation out of high school according to ESPN as a senior out of Spring Valley High School in Las Vegas. She was named a McDonald’s All-American, a Jordan Brand Classic selection, and a Naismith High School All-American. Gayles averaged 13.8 points, 3.3 assists, 3.5 steals and 4.9 rebounds per game as a senior and earned honors as a Las Vegas Sun Standout and a Super Seven. She helped Spring Valley win the 2021 Class 5A state championship. Gayles also played club basketball for West Coast United and Vegas Elite.
