Texas Basketball: Keeyan Itejere first to sign in the 2021 recruiting class

The 2021 Texas basketball recruiting class got their first official signing on the morning of Nov. 11, with 3-Star PF Keeyan Itejere.

An underrated storyline for the future of head coach Shaka Smart and the Texas basketball program arrived on Nov. 11. This is the first day of the Early Signing Period for the 2021 men’s college hoops recruiting cycle. The Early Signing Period for college hoops is a rather long one, though, compared to football.

The Early Signing Period for hoops lasts until Nov. 18, giving prospects a full week to make their decisions as to if they will sign their National Letter of Intent. The regular period for signing for college hoops take place from April 14, 2021-May 19, 2021. That effectively makes National Signing Day (at least the last day of the signing periods for this recruiting cycle) May 19, 2021.

But the 2021 Texas hoops recruiting class is one that came together pretty fast this offseason. The first commit in the Longhorns 2021 class was the three-star 6-foot-9 and 190 pound Grace Christian School power forward Keeyan Itejere. When Texas got a commitment from Itejere back on June 23, 2020, it was the start of a solid recruiting class in place for this cycle for Smart.

Moreover, Itejere made his mark in the Longhorns 2021 class by also becoming the first commit to sign his National Letter of Intent during the first day of the Early Signing Period. The news of Itejere signing his LOI with Texas came early in the morning of Nov. 11, the first day of the Early Signing Period.

What Texas is getting now that the North Carolina native Itejere has signed his LOI is the nation’s No. 259 2021 high school prospect, No. 46 power forward, and No. 12 prospect out of North Carolina (247Sports Composite). The Top247 ranks him as the No. 45 power forward and No. 11 prospect out of North Carolina.

Itejere chose to commit to Texas over offers from four other schools. He also held offers from the likes of Charleston Southern, Elon, Radford, and Rhode Island.

Texas still has three commits in their 2021 class that have yet to sign their LOI. The highest rated of the bunch is the talented four-star IMG Academy shooting guard Tamar Bates. They also hold commitments from four-star Assumption guard Emarion Ellis and four-star Brookfield Central power forward David Joplin.

According to the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings, the 2021 Texas recruiting class ranks at No. 21 in the nation and holds steady in the second spot in the Big 12 behind the Baylor Bears. Texas has three blue chip commits in their 2021 class, but no true five-star prospects at the moment.