Texas cracks top 8 for elite 2025 PF Niko Bundalo

Texas basketball and head coach Rodney Terry have cracked another top schools list for one of the elite recruits in the nation in the class of 2025 this summer. High-four-star Uniontown (OH) Western Reserve Academy power forward Niko Bundalo included Texas among his top eight finalist schools, according to On3's Joe Tipton.

Rounding out Bundalo's top eight finalist schools are the Kentucky Wildcat, UConn Huskies, Xavier Musketeers, Pitt Panthers, Ohio State Buckeyes, North Carolina Tar Heels, and Michigan State Spartans.

Can Texas basketball get elite 2025 PF offer Niko Bundalo on campus for a visit this fall?

Along with his list of finalist schools, Bundalo scheduled four official visits that will take place over the next month or two. He will officially visit UConn (Aug. 31), Michigan State (Sep. 6), Ohio State (Sep. 21), and UNC (Oct. 4) late this summer and in the fall.

Terry and the Longhorns offered Bundalo late in the spring after he had a big circuit performance with his Adidas 3SSB team earlier this year. Bundalo picked up over a half-dozen offers from major conference schools after a strong performance in 3SSB in late May.

Bundalo consistently communicates with Terry as his recruitment has heated up over the last few months. Terry's relationship with Bundalo has the Longhorns in the mix in this recruitment entering the late summer months on the recruiting trail.

"The Longhorns toughness and the toughness that they play with and the family aspect that they bring to the table with coach Rodney. I feel like he enjoys every single second that he has with his team. To me as a player, I can really trust coach Rod. The expectation that he brings is, when it’s time to play, it’s time to play. But when it’s time to do other things, it’s time to do other things. I think he has a really good saying, where he says ‘stay where your feet are.’ I think that’s really huge for that team and for me because it allows me to get a grasp on what he stands for as a coach and as a man."

Texas has done well recruiting to the frontcourt via high school and the transfer portal in the last couple of years. Terry and the Longhorns signed the No. 1 power forward recruit out of high school from Texas in the 2024 class in the 247Sports Composite, Carrollton (TX) Newman four-star Nic Codie.

A good indication that things are getting serious in this recruitment for the Longhorns will be if Bundalo schedules an official visit to Texas during the fall. Since he is likely to make a decision before or during the Early Signing Period in November, Texas would need to get him on campus at some point likely in October or November to have a realistic shot here among the top contenders.

Bundalo ranks as the No. 23 recruit nationally in the 2025 class in the 247Sports Composite, No. 8 power forward, and No. 1 from Ohio.

Other Texas basketball stories on Hook'em Headlines