Texas women's basketball is rebuilding its roster after several players entered the transfer portal. While that's normal and part of modern-day college athletics, Texas is doing something bold that could really pay off next season. While most coaches are trying to find experience in the portal, as Schaefer did when he got a player from our rivals north of the Red River, he's really hitting the high school trail.
Schaefer has really done a good job of finding talent in the high school rankings. Amalia Holguin is just one of the many high school players he's signed in the 2026 recruiting class. His incoming high school class is so elite that you could see why those girls who entered the transfer portal did. You could allege that they were afraid of losing playing time to some of these girls.
One of the players Schaefer is now trying to recruit is Oliviyah Edwards. You might have heard her name after the news that she wanted out of Tennessee, following the transfer portal additions of all their players. The Volunteers granted her release, and now Schaefer is looking to put her in a burnt orange jersey next season. I'm glad that Schaefer was monitoring that situation because it's like adding another "infinity stone" to his 2026 recruiting gantlet.
Addison Bjorn, Isi Etute, Bri Crittendon, and Aaliah Spaight are just some of the names that have committed to the Longhorns next season. You could say that Schaefer is going to have to find playing time for all of them, or if he plans to redshirt them, that will keep them out for a season. However, he's got the summer and the fall to decide which ones will sit out next year. Out of the three seasons I've covered the Longhorns, this might be the most impressive recruiting class that Schaefer has put together.
With how talented the SEC is when it comes to women's basketball, you don't want to spend all of your time recruiting high school players. You don't know whether they'll walk onto the court and do well against some of the conference's experienced players. After seeing some of the highlight reels from the ladies committed to Texas, I think Schaefer might have struck gold and will have an elite team in the SEC next season.
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