Texas dropped from No. 4 this week to No. 5 in the latest Coaches Poll. But now they just landed a major recruit as her announcement on Wednesday flips the whole script on a tough week.

The Longhorns' defense, usually a lockdown unit under Vic Schaefer, leaked points in key spots lately.

Texas beefed up its incoming freshman class with Joyce Isi Etute, a 6-foot-1 post from Luxembourg now at IMG Academy in Florida. She made it official this week, choosing the Longhorns' women's hoops program after some social media drama. 

Etute is an IMG standout. And has lit up international play for Luxembourg's youth squads. In the 2024 FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket, she averaged 18.7 points and 13.4 rebounds.

In her prior youth tournaments show consistent double-doubles with 15.8 points and 18.2 boards in the 2023 U16 Division B.

With Texas hitting gold, UCLA has been left disappointed.

UCLA Recruiting Setback

Etute's flip stings UCLA hard. This is because as Cori Close gears up for a mass senior incoming. Now seven gone, including stars Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice. Thus, she had a close pinned hopes on recruits like Etute, Sienna Betts, and Lena Bilic to dodge a rebuild in 2026-27. 

Back in October,  when Etute posted "I'm locked in!" for the Bruins on Instagram. It was her picking them over Texas, South Carolina, and others. But following it she quietly deleted it weeks ago. Which is when the rumors started to fuel up. 

But now it's clear, since she's Texas-bound, leaving Close's class. 

And she heads into a loaded Texas group with top-10 wings Brihanna Crittendon and Addison Bjorn. Also, she has guard Amalia Holguin and point Aaliah Spaight per ESPN rankings.

Infact it's the Horns' biggest high school haul since 2020's five-signee class, and their second straight international add after Ireland's Grace Prenter last summer. So it is Schaefer's building a huge team to watch out, Big 12.

Written by

Ishika Ghosh

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu