Vic Schaefer’s Texas Longhorns now have the No. 1 recruiting class in 2026 after Thursday’s massive signing from Riverside (Mo.) Park Hill South small forward Addison Bjorn, who chose Texas over the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Bjorn had previously showed up to a practice to inform the Longhorns of her decision.
Since Bjorn hadn’t yet made her commitment public, Schaefer and his players had to keep it a secret after Wednesday’s blowout of James Madison.
The 6’2 standout held 44 total offers before making her decision, including Baylor, Duke, Iowa, Notre Dame, Tennessee, UConn, and UCLA, joining a class that also features two other consensus five-star prospects — power forward Bri Crittendon, the No. 8 player nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings and point guard Aaliah Spaight, the No. 21 player nationally, as well as consensus four-star prospect Amalia Holguin, a shooting guard ranked 57th.
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So Bjorn is a headliner for a class that Schaefer hopes will help him achieve the national championship breakthrough his resume is missing as the best coaches in the women’s game — LSU’s Kim Mulkey, South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, and UConn’s Geno Auriemma have limited Schaefer’s teams in Austin and in Starkville to contending status, including back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2018 at Mississippi State.
Hosting Bjorn for an official visit on Oct. 31 helped solidify her commitment over some of the best programs in women’s college basketball. Known as a lockdown defender who can harry multiple positions, Bjorn fits the hard-nosed profile that defines Schaefer’s team with her upside dependent on her ability to improve her shootiong.
Ranked as the No. 9 player nationally, Bjorn is the No. 2 small forward.
