November 21, 2024
Texas signs top-five class of 2025 recruit
By Isa Almeida
Schaefer: 'When it comes to Aaliyah Crump it feels like we hit a really big home run'
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas women’s basketball head coach Vic Schaefer and his Longhorns have just one signing from the class of 2025 so far, but it’s a good one.
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Aaliyah Crump, who sits at No. 5 in ESPN’s recruiting rankings, made her commitment to Texas official on National Signing Day last Wednesday. The guard out of Minnesota is now the highest-ranked signing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
“You can talk about Crump being a top-five recruit in the country, she’s a state champion, she’s won gold medals for USA Basketball, she’s done so much in such a short period of time,” Schaefer told reporters. “She’s gonna do so many great things here on the Forty Acres as well.”
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Schaefer compared Crump to SEC Preseason Player of the Year Madison Booker, who was originally a forward, but played the point guard role after Rori Harmon‘s injury ahead of conference play. Schaefer described the signee as a big guard who is tall, athletic and can really score on all three levels. Most importantly, she enjoys the assist just as much as the bucket.
“She’s tough, she’s physical, she’s not afraid of contact,” Schaefer said. “She brings so much to the table.”
Schaefer, formerly the head coach of Mississippi State, is familiar with the SEC, where his Longhorns, formerly of the Big 12, now play. He previously described an SEC-fit player to be physical, tough and aggressive.
Schaefer has no doubt Crump checks all three boxes.
“She plays the game at a high level,” he said. “I think you have to give credit to those coaches that have worked with her and coached her over the course of her career. They’ve helped mold her and develop her into the player she is today.”
Crump led Minnetonka High School to the Minnesota state title in 2024 under the leadership of Brian Cosgriff and has also played for Bill Larson at North Tartan and Dickson Jenson at All Iowa Attack.
Eager to continue contending for championships, Schaefer’s winning mentality attracted Crump to Texas.
“I love the work that they put in every day,” Crump told reporters. “They don’t really want to be seen; they put in the work behind closed doors, and I think that’s what I really loved about this program. But also, they really have this family feel. They’re all really close and are there for each other. I know I’m gonna be taken care of off the court and I’m not just gonna become a better basketball player, but I’m gonna become a better person, too.”
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And while Crump thinks the program will add a lot to her game, Schaefer knows she will add a lot to his team and the University of Texas as well.
“Our university’s gotten better, not just women’s basketball,” Schaefer said. “She’s gonna add a lot to our community; she will add a lot to our campus.”
Crump has been a part of USA Basketball’s youth programs since 2022. In 2023, she was part of the Team USA Women’s U16 National Team that earned the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Merida, Mexico, and ranked second on the team in made threes and 3-point percentage.
Despite the national team appearances, being a two-time all-state honoree, being selected the 2024 MaxPreps Minnesota Player of the Year and being on the watch list for the 2024-25 Naismith Trophy Girl’s High School Player of the Year award, Schaefer believes the best is yet to come for Crump.
“When it comes to Aaliyah Crump, it feels like we hit a really big home run,” Schaefer said.
