Pick of the Litter: Texas #1 in Class of 2026 Rankings

Recruiting Classes 2026 Fall Update

The Longhorns Still The Best

In the NCAA recruiting right now, It’s not about the number in your recruiting classes it’s the TALENT.  With the increasing importance of the transfer portal allowing programs to add veteran experience quickly top programs are needing fewer pieces than ever to bring in.  The Longhorns proved that true in the 2026 class securing only 3 verbals, but from the #1 player at three vital positions in the country.

The queen of the class (for Texas and the nation) is Austin Skyline Outside Henley Anderson.  EARNING a PPV of 300 she does it all and has the “dawg mentality” that she competes every single time she’s on the court.  Yes being a hometown kid is great for Coach Elliot and staff, but Anderson just seems like that can’t miss star.  Size, frame and high-ceiling to continue to put on strength and explosion to help her body endure the wear and tear of the college game.  She plays the back row like the front.  Attitude she checks the boxes and won’t be your top cheerleader, but she won’t be any kind of a locker room liability and will compete from the second you hand her a dorm key.  She’s excelled on the USAVB stage and is the unassuming star that everyone wanted, but everyone knew only the Horns were getting.  The Texas OH room will be like an Olympic training competition cutdown weekend, but Anderson will have her nose right in there for early PT if that is possible for any frosh in Austin.

Genevieve Harris-NC Academy-Setter: PPV 285:

If you have followed us at all since January you have heard the Harris story.  Separated herself from the pack of 2026 setters at December NTDP with a “take charge attitude” and we will say this a couple more times in this write-up that “dawg mentality” in every drill.  I also think that Harris showed some real maturity in her attitude on and off the court last year that was noticeable by UT staff and many others.  That went quite a ways in lifting her stock in the recruiting game.  You don’t question technique and skill when you are talking about recruits at this level, though some will talk about her “lack of height” a little bit.  Harris is NOT afraid to take chances and is aggressive running the offense.  She is confident and it shows.  I think Longhorn staff would agree, playing in front of 12,000 fans and up in a Final Fours you need to be confident!

Emma Cugino-Mintonette-Libero: PPV 275:

Again the most locked ii bro in the Class of 2026.  I know it came down to Cugino and a couple of others for the Horns and a big deciding factor (over her on-court skill) was simply how she handled herself in “other events” select camps, invite camps, all-star events jumping to the front of the lines, stepping in and calming new teammates, not being afraid to be first in new drills, shaking off mistakes when others may put their heads down, etc.  Cugino was cooler in those situations that anyone else (again the DAWG MENTALITY that is often tough to teach and it a must for a champion) she will need it coming into a program that takes a top libero every class and has as much talent in that room as they do in the Outside Hitter room.  She will bring toughness mentally and physically for sure.

So the Horns do it again.  Three targets, three #1 and three verbals.  Done in a week and onto the 2027s.  See everyone it’s that easy I guess, remember the world of recruiting is not equal after we get past #1 and #2:) but hey they aren’t going to complain one bit.

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