2021 Recruiting - WBB

So, Flash34, are you beginning to get an inkling of the answer to your question on the coaching changes thread"? Vic + The University of Texas at Austin is going to be a great recruiting combo.

 

In all fairness to the previous coaches, Rori had visited Texas unofficially several times and attended a summer camp or two. So, all that groundwork they laid had to have helped make Vic's and his assistant coaches' jobs a lot easier in securing Rori's verbal commitment.

 

Now that our projected ‘21 is full, could we still sign another for the class this offseason? (Assuming one way or another we will have an open scholarship for them by the ‘21-‘22 season)

 

What's rare is that they are both listed as point guards by the different recruiting sites I've viewed. Some have Kyndall rated higher; others have Rori rated higher. Not sure what type of offense they run in high school, but probably each gets minutes playing the point position, and the off guard position.

Based on our small numbers for the 2021 class, I just wanted us to land one of them. And, I didn't get the feeling that they'd be attending the same college as both probably want to be PG's in college and as professional hoopsters.

So, great get by Vic and staff!

 

So excited to get an elite talent at a position of need.

 

Cypress Creek point guard Rori Harmon commits to joining Texas' 2021 recruiting class | Hookem.com

 

Kinda like Sa'Myah Smith and Aminah Muhammad, both from DeSoto, both in the top 25 for class of 2022 according to HG.

 

I would agree 100% @Moooooo, but I will add that Rori tallked about it coming down to her relationship with the "coaches" and them helping get her ready for the WNBA and said: "in light of the moving pieces at Texas"....so I do absolutely think Vic Schaefer's hiring was a big part of the reason we got her.

 

Of course. This new staff earned her verbal commitment.

But, just like with DeYona Gaston, it certainly helped Texas with both that they had previously visited the University, and attended at least one of the previous staff's summer camps. The "familiarity" they obtained in the past had to have made their decisions to choose Texas much easier than if they had never stepped foot on campus. This pandemic and the inability to currently take college visits didn't affect us with Gaston and Harmon, fortunately.

Conversely, Lauren Ebo didn't need to ever visit Texas (or Miss. State, I believe). She is coming to Texas mainly because of the current coaching staff.

 

I saw this earlier this morning and initially I just thought that quite a few Longhorn greats came between Kamie and the recent players and should have been there. Now I wonder if this is the equivalent of the shush emoji from Bryan Carrington for FB.

 

Very well could have been a precursor of something upcoming.

Now, when I posted that TexasWBB was following Rori, that was my clue that a verbal commitment had occurred (as we saw that's how it went down with Gaston and Lambert, and maybe Ebo, too). Others that started following Rori today before news broke of her verbal commitment included Blair Schaefer, Dominique Dillingham, and Ketara Chapel.

 

PGs are fascinating to me because they're the floor generals of the team. Looking at the many recruiting classes, you can see where Texas was on the rise in terms of recruiting and then the dropoff. That doesn't mean I'm dissing our PG of 2020, just that I agree that we wouldn't have gotten Harmon if there wasn't a change in coaching staff at Texas. Year-Player-PG rank within Hoopgurlz (because it's free)

2014-McCarty-6
2015-Higgs-3 [transfer Kyra Lambert-4]
2016-Sutton-2
2017-Patterson-1 (Chennedy Carter #2)
2018-[none]
2019-[none]
2020-Chevalier-27
2021-Harmon-6

Ack. Typing this up, it's more depressing than I thought.

 

Luther started this thread over 2 years ago; and, here we are today with a verbal commitment from Rori Harmon . .

 

After watching video of Harmon, this morning I was thinking to myself, "Man! She is the perfect prototype guard for Vic's system. I think I'd make her my #1 priority if I were him."

 

Right! Recruiting was starting to dip, but to be fair Karen was an excellent recruiter there for a bit and actually IMO out-recruited Baylor a year or two. The issue wasn't getting top recruits to Texas, but what happened after they got there -- and for various reasons not all Karen's fault. But... it was what it was.

 

2 commitments for currently 2 spots. Assume at least 1 additional spot opens up and Vic and Co. can reel in Aaliyah Moore - I’d be with that class.

 

Is our roster full for 2021-2022? I haven't worked out everything yet in terms of scholarships available.

 

While I've only seen limited film of Rori so far, what stands out to me the most is her elite speed with the basketball. She reminds of Tamicha Jackson who played at Dallas Lincoln and then was super at Louisiana Tech.

 

Currently:

1. Kyra Lambert (Grad)
2. Charli Collier (Junior)
3. Joanne Allen-Taylor (Junior)
4. Audrey Warren (Junior)
5. Shae Routt (Junior)
6. Lauren Ebo (Junior)
7. Karisma Ortiz (RS-Soph)
8. Celeste Taylor (Soph)
9. Issy Palmer (Soph)
10. Shay Holle (Frosh)
11. Ashley Chevalier (Frosh)
12. Elyssa Coleman (Frosh)
13. Precious Johnson (Frosh)
14. Deyona Gaston (Frosh)

I miss anyone? If not, that means there is currently 1 open scholarship + Kyra’s = 2.

2021 commits: Paige Bradley and Rori Harmon

 

I’m cool with that the 2021 class isn’t as deep in Texas as it’s been in the past.

 

I think it was Ray Caldwell that said Rori also had a little Andrea Riley in her who I think also played at Lincoln.

 

ProspectNation.com rankings:

2021 Players | Prospects Nation

 

I watched her in person in a couple of playoff games this year, including their showdown vs. Summer Creek. To me what stood out above all else was her handles -- some of the best I've ever seen at that level. She's also a great floor leader and decision maker. Her speed is elite in terms of utilizing change of pace, but what separates her is the handle and floor leadership.

edit to add: I was remiss not to mention her defense, which is also next-level. She reportedly averaged nearly 5 steals per game, which is amazing.

 

Texas women's hoops lands commitment from 2021 5-star PG

 

I saw that Aaliyah Moore and Kyndall Hunter play their club ball with CyFair Elite. But, that's not the squad where Rori plays, although she is part of the CyFair club program. Anyone know which club she's on? Link to that roster?