Even though Texas women's basketball didn't suit up last night against an SEC team, they still had some good news happen. Vic Schaefer and his coaching staff learned that they flipped forwardJoyce Isime Etute from UCLA to Texas. With the latest commitment to the Texas Longhorns program, they have separated themselves with one of the most impressive recruiting classes in women's college basketball right now.
Joyce Isime Etute is a native of Luxembourg and currently plays for IMG Academy. She's a highly sought-after recruit who multiple schools, including UCLA and South Carolina, recently pursued. She initially committed to UCLA, but flipped her recruitment to Texas earlier this week. I don't know what changed her mind and led her to flip her commitment to Texas, but Longhorns fans should be pleased she's coming to Austin next season.
Etute is a 6'2" power forward who will bring a lot of paint presence for the Longhorns. You won't see her take a lot of threes because her coaches have her dive to the rim off screens. She's also an excellent post player who can post up and score while drawing a foul against her opponents. Knowing Schaefer is going to lose some of his inside presence due to graduating seniors and possible transfers, Etute will really help the Longhorns be a threat at the rim.
With her commitment this week, she adds to the firepower that Schaefer will have at his disposal next season. With Brihanna Crittendon, Addison Bjorn, Amalia Holguin, and Aaliah Spaight already committed to the Longhorns, adding Etute adds a lot of distance as the number one recruiting class in women's college basketball right now. Schaefer's recruiting class is so impressive that Notre Dame's recruiting class feels like a distant second.
The future of women's basketball at Texas is bright with Etute joining the incoming recruiting class. Who knows what the ceiling will be for the Longhorns next season, but I'm really excited with all the players coming in, thanks to Madison Booker and Rori Harmon. I know those two have a massive impact on the 2026 recruiting class. If everything goes according to plan, Texas might bring home a national title in the next year or two.