The recruiting process is not officially over until ink hits paper, but Palaie Gaoteote is done.

The five-star linebacker from Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman tells 247Sports he is completely locked in with USC, the program he committed to nearly 10 months ago, heading into the early signing period later this month.

Gaoteote, the top-rated inside linebacker in the 2018 class and No. 14 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite, was scheduled to take his first official visit of the process to Ohio State last weekend but did not make that trip.

"I decided to not go on the Ohio state visit or any upcoming visit," Gaoteote said, "and completely shut the process down as far as recruiting goes."

The 6-foot-2, 235-pound prospect had been eyeing additional visits to Oregon, UCLA and Washington. Gaoteote plans to visit the Trojans during their big recruiting weekend in January and is in line to sign early.

It's another huge victory for the Trojans, who prioritized Gaoteote from the start and made an effort to see him in action the day after winning the Pac-12 Championship Game earlier this month. Gaoteote is committed to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl next month.