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There are reasons for UConn, USC and Tennessee fans to be excited about the class of 2026. Same goes for those that support Duke and Kentucky.
But, at least for now, the Texas faithful are on top.
This week, the Longhorns and head coach Vic Schaefer secured the commitments of two top-10 2026 recruits: Brihanna Crittendon and Addison Bjorn.
Crittendon, a five-star prospect ranked No. 8 in the class of 2026 according to ESPN’s SportsCenter NEXT 100, is a 6-foot-3 forward from Colorado who sports a modern, perimeter-based game. She’s comfortable facing up and attacking the basket, while also confident from behind the arc. Her willingness to compete as a rebounder and defender, certainly, will fit in with the defensive-first culture that is well-established in Austin.
On why she committed to the Longhorns over Tennessee, TCU, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Ohio State and UCLA, Crittendon told ESPN:
Texas was everything I was looking for—the culture, the players, the staff and the environment. Add in the university’s strong commitment to women’s sports, and it just felt right. It’s the SEC, and I’m excited to be a Longhorn!
Last year as a junior at Colorado’s Riverdale Ridge, she put nearly 27 points per game, shooting 57 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3. She also grabbed almost six boards per game.
Bjorn, the No. 10 recruit in the class, is a 6-foot-1 wing from Missouri who was highly-coveted due to her adaptability as an offensive player, as she has a proven ability to play either a central or supporting role. Her combination of shooting, ball handling and cutting instincts also has made her a valuable member of several USA Basketball teams, including this past summer’s gold medal-winning U19 World Cup squad.
Playing on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring, Bjorn scored over 17 points per game on 65 percent shooting, while also adding more than five rebounds and three assists per game. On why she’s headed to Texas instead of Iowa, North Carolina, UConn, Kansas, Notre Dame or Duke, Bjorn said to ESPN:
I chose Texas because of the strong winning culture and it really felt like home. It is an amazing opportunity for me to compete on the biggest stages and against the best competition in the country. My goal is to do whatever it takes to help bring a national championship to Texas.
As Bjorn and Crittendon will be part of a 2026 freshman class that already includes two other top-60 recruits in Aaliah Spaight, a 5-foot-7 point guard from Las Vegas ranked No. 20, and Amalia Holguin, a 5-foot-9 guard from Newport Beach, CA ranked No. 60, the idea of bringing the first national championship to the city of Austin since 1986 is not outlandish.
Because Madison Booker still should be wearing burnt orange when Crittendon, Bjorn, Spaight and Holguin arrive on campus, in addition to current freshman Aaliyah Crump, the No. 5 recruit in the class of 2025, the 2026-27 Longhorns should have the pieces need to adopt and execute a more modern style of play, with versatility and shooting across all positions, while also still abiding by Schaefer’s more old-school defensive principles.
Already bigger, things are also looking even better for Texas.
