Paulina Prieto Cerame’s volleyball career has come full circle.
The recent Texas graduate announced on her Instagram account on Tuesday that she had begun her professional career with Las Valencianas de Juncos, a Puerto Rico-based professional team. Prieto Cerame attended high school in Miami, but she spent much of her preteen years in Puerto Rico. Prieto Cerame told the American-Statesman last year that she was introduced to volleyball by her uncle, who managed a professional team in Puerto Rico.
Prieto Cerame, who graduated this past December with a degree in youth and community studies, spent the last three years at Texas. She began her collegiate career at Penn State, and Prieto Cerame won a national championship with the Nittany Lions in 2013.
Less than a month after the setter wrapped up her collegiate career at Texas, Collins has signed with a professional volleyball team that is based in Spain’s Canary Islands. Ahead of her first professional match on Saturday, Collins posted a picture of her IBSA CV Gran Canaria jersey on her Instagram account.
For the first time, the top high school volleyball player in the country will be a Longhorn.
Texas-bound outside hitter Lexi Sun was recognized as the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year on Wednesday. Sun is the first Longhorn-to-be to win the award, which is given annually to the nation’s premier preps player. During the 1995-96 school year, Kerri Walsh became Gatorade’s first honoree for the sport of volleyball.
“I think it just gives me more incentive to work hard and get better every day,” Sun said. “It’s just giving me more drive to get better.”
Sun attends Santa Fe Christian in Solana Beach, Calif., and she was presented the Gatorade award by Olympian April Ross on Wednesday morning. As Sun and her high school teammates were playing volleyball on the beach, Ross rode up on a bike and surprised her with ice cream and the accolade.
“The award kind of speaks for itself,” said Ross, who was Gatorade’s top volleyball player for the 1999-2000 school year. “It’s a huge confidence boost, especially going into college to know how much your coach believes in you, that you’re officially the best player in the nation and that you’re also being recognized for your academics and community service.”
Olympic medalist April Ross surprised @Gatorade National Player of the Year Lexi Sun with the best kind of "ice cream" she could imagine pic.twitter.com/ydV1pWyq43
During her senior year, the 6-2 Sun averaged 5.9 kills and 2.7 digs per set. In December, Sun was recognized as MaxPreps’ Player of the Year and named the West team’s MVP at the Under Armour All-America volleyball match. PrepVolleyball.com listed Sun as the top recruit in the Class of 2017.
Sun represents 25 percent of Texas’ 2017 recruiting class. Middle blocker Brionne Butler and libero Olivia Zelon have already enrolled at Texas, but Sun still has oceanography, film and English classes to wrap up. She plans to move to Austin in June.
“It’s all happening so quickly, and I’m excited to get to play with the girls, move to Austin and start a new chapter in my life,” Sun said.
Sun’s acceptance of the Gatorade award isn’t the only news that broke for the Longhorns this week. One day earlier, Sun gained two future teammates as Skylar Fields and Naomi Cabello gave verbal commitments to Texas.
A 6-2 outside hitter from Missouri City’s Ridge Point High, Fields was the only sophomore on the Texas Girls Coaches Association’s Class 6A all-state team in 2016. Cabello is a Florida freshman, and she averaged 5.0 assists and 2.1 kills per set this past fall for East Ridge High.
Sun has signed with Texas, and the California native will soon become the first Longhorn volleyball player with the Gatorade award on her resume. Gatorade annually honors the top high school standouts in a myriad of sports that range from girls cross-country to football.
Gatorade began recognizing athletic achievements during the 1985-86 school year. Since then, 10 future Longhorns have been honored by the company.
FOOTBALL
Garrett Gilbert (2008-09)
Johnathan Gray (2011-12)
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Susan Anderson (1985-86)
Vicki Hall (1987-88)
VOLLEYBALL
Lexi Sun (2016-17)
SOFTBALL
Cat Osterman (2000-01)
GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
Ychlindria Spears (2000-01)
Sanya Richards (2001-02)
Bianca Knight (2005-06)
BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
Brendan Christian (2001-02)
No Longhorn-to-be has won a Gatorade Player of the Year award in boys cross-country, girls cross-country, boys basketball or girls soccer. The Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball during the 2015-16 school year, Kyle Muller was a Texas signee who eventually opted to join the Atlanta Braves’ organization out of high school.
For Texas’ volleyball team, the off-season is a short season.
Texas will participate in two tournaments this spring, the team announced on Monday. Texas travel to Houston’s F.A.S.T. Tournament on April 8 and Dallas’ Collegiate Showcase Tournament on April 15. The Longhorns will then close out the spring season with a home match against North Texas on April 18.
Outside hitters Ebony Nwanebu and Micaya White were both AVCA All-Americans in 2016, and they are among seven returners who played in at least 20 matches in 2016. The Longhorns will also welcome back Chiaka Ogbogu, an All-American middle blocker who was sidelined by academic issues this past fall. Half of the Longhorns’ highly-rated recruiting class — middle blocker Brionne Butler and libero Olivia Zelon — has already enrolled at Texas, and both freshmen will participate in spring drills.
The next time that Nicole Dalton steps onto a volleyball court, it will be as a coach.
Dalton has been named the head volleyball coach at Shawnee Mission East, a high school in Prairie Village, Kan. Dalton recently completed her collegiate career at Texas, and she now takes over a program that went 31-10 in 2016. The Lancers finished third in the Class 6A state playoffs.
During her five years in Austin, Dalton won a NCAA title in 2012 and all five of her teams reached the Final Four (Dalton was sidelined in 2013 because of an injury). Recruited as a setter from Colorado, the six-foot-two-inch Dalton eventually developed into a defensive role at Texas. Dalton also spent her last three seasons as a team captain.
Texas volleyball coach Jerritt Elliott and four of his Longhorns are heading to Thailand.
USA Volleyball announced on Monday that Elliott will serve as the head coach for the U.S. Women’s Collegiate Thailand Tour. Elliott will coach a 12-player team that includes four Longhorns: Chiaka Ogbogu, Yaazie Bedart-Ghani, Morgan Johnson, and Micaya White. The players were selected after participating in an early-March tryout in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Kansas outside hitter Madison Rigdon, who hails from nearby Pflugerville, is also on the roster.
Kansas’ Madison Rigdon prepares to compete against Texas during a match at Gregory Gym Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Stephen Spillman / for American-Statesman)
The Longhorns and their countrymen will compete in Bangkok from May 19-30. They are scheduled to play the Thailand National Team, the Thailand U23 Team and Bangkok Glass. The U.S. Women will also play two undetermined opponents. According to a Texas press release, Bangkok Glass is the Thai professional league’s top team.
This fall, Texas volleyball will count three All-Americans and the nation’s top two recruits among its offensive options.
Who, though, is going to set those players up?
All-American setter Chloe Collins, No. 4 on UT’s career assists list, is now a Texas Ex. Her graduation leaves Riley Fisbeck as the only setter on the current roster since highly-regarded prospect Ashley Shook is still in high school. And Fisbeck didn’t play during her first year, so neither of the Longhorns setters will have any collegiate experience.
Fisbeck, a La Grange native, distributed 38 assists over four sets in Texas’ spring-ending exhibition against North Texas on Tuesday. Shook, meanwhile, is an Under Armour All-American out of Illinois who was rated as the Class of 2017’s sixth-best recruit. (Fellow signees Lexi Sun and Brionne Butler topped that PrepVolleyball.com list).
“(Riley) works so hard. I know how bad she wants to be good, so that’s awesome to see. We all have confidence in her,” libero Cat McCoy said. “Ashley is an amazing setter. I think it’s going to be great for her to come in and compete for a spot from day one.”
Texas football coach Tom Herman has spent time eyeing “the waiver wire” this spring in search of a graduate transfer who could join younger quarterbacks Shane Buechele and Sam Ehlinger on the depth chart. Would volleyball coach Jerritt Elliott do the same thing for the quarterback of his team?
“I don’t think so,” said Elliott, who is entering his 17th season at Texas. “Ashley’s really, really good, and I thought Riley played her best match of the spring. We just need to keep developing them and see what happens.”
Texas’ Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani(27) hits over TCU’s Natalie Gower(19) during a Big 12 Conference match at Gregory Gym Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. (Stephen Spillman / for American-Statesman)
The hole that Bedart-Ghani was asked to fill this past season, though, no longer exists. In fact, Texas may have too much depth in the middle.
After missing the 2016 season, three-time All-American middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu has rejoined the team. Junior-to-be Morgan Johnson is coming off a 150-block year. Butler has already enrolled at Texas, and the Longhorns have high hopes for rising sophomore Orie Agbaji.
So Bedart-Ghani will shift back to the outside, where Elliott says she will be used as either an outside or opposite hitter. In addition to Bedart-Ghani, Texas can attack from the pins with All-Americans Micaya White (4.03 kpg) and Ebony Nwanebu (3.74 kpg). Sun is also the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year.
“I’d love to be on one of the pins,” Bedart-Ghani said. “I think that’s where a lot of my strengths lie. We’ll see.”
Texas Cat McCoy (8) celebrates a point against Texas Tech during a Big 12 Conference match at Gregory Gym Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. (Stephen Spillman / for American-Statesman)
Globetrotting: Now that the spring season is over, some members of the volleyball team can shift their attention to traveling. In May, Elliott will lead a team of college players that includes Bedart-Ghani, Ogbogu, Johnson and White on an exhibition tour through Thailand. Earlier that month, Elliott, Butler and graduate assistant Kevin Inlow also will join forces on a U.S. women’s junior national team that will compete in Costa Rica.
Three Longhorns also will be in Haiti in May, although they won’t be appearing on a volleyball court.
McCoy will be joined by Nwanebu and defensive specialist Natalie Gilbert on a mission trip there from May 24-31. The players will work with a group called “Longhorns for Haiti,” which includes members of the school’s soccer program. McCoy said she had always wanted to go on a mission trip, but it was hard to schedule one around her volleyball obligations.
“(We’re going to) just help out and spread God’s love,” McCoy said. “It’s going to be awesome.”
Texas volleyball fans are hoping that the 2017 season ends in Kansas City. It will begin in Florida.
Texas is scheduled to play 26 times during the 2017 regular season, the school announced on Thursday. Texas, which just wrapped up its spring practices, has reached the Final Four in each of the past five seasons, and an experience-laden team is expected to once again contend for a national title. This year’s NCAA championship game will be held in Kansas City.
Texas is set to open its 2017 season at the VERT Challenge, and the Longhorns will play Florida in Gainesville. After playing five times in Florida and San Diego, Texas will meet A&M-Corpus Christi on Sept. 7 in its first match in Gregory Gym.
Other notable dates on Texas’ schedule include a home match on Sept. 8 against Final Four qualifier Minnesota and a Sept. 13 trip to Texas A&M. Texas plays its first Big 12 match at West Virginia on Sept. 23. Kansas, which won the Big 12 title in 2016, hosts the Longhorns on Oct. 11 before visiting Austin on Nov. 15.
Texas’ Autumn Rounsaville(13) sets against Texas A&M during a match at Gregory Gym Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (Stephen Spillman / for American-Statesman)
One fun fact about the 2017 schedule involves defensive specialist Autumn Rounsaville, who averaged 1.48 digs per set as a freshman. Rounsaville won a state championship during her senior year of high school in 2015, and she will get to play three of her Dripping Springs classmates this fall.
Morgyn Greer, who was a two-time All-Central Texas Player of the Year, is an outside hitter at Florida. Madison Green is a setter on A&M-Corpus Christi’s roster, while Ashley Waggle is a middle blocker at Big 12 rival TCU.
Over the weekend, a total of 80 current and former University of Texas athletes participated in graduation ceremonies. For some, it marked the end of a four-year journey of self discovery on and off the playing field.
For others, graduation meant returning to the campus they once wowed with athletic skill and bringing their UT experience full circle with a degree. Perhaps the most notable graduate was former men’s basketball star T.J. Ford, but scroll below and you’ll find social media reactions from a myriad of athletes.
Today I accomplished one of my childhood goals…graduating from the University of Texas! Thankful for my family's support! #Hook'em 🤘pic.twitter.com/oGeX51FCoG
You can officially add the nation’s top recruiting class into the mix.
PrepVolleyball.com announced on Thursday that Texas had signed the top-ranked collection of recruits for the Class of 2017. In November, Texas signed outside hitter Lexi Sun, middle blocker Brionne Butler, setter Ashley Shook and libero Olivia Zelon. Butler and Zelon enrolled early and participated in spring drills as Texas.
Texas’ ascension to the top of PrepVolleyball.com’s list was merely a matter of math. Sun, who was named the Gatorade Player of the Year earlier this year, was the website’s top recruit. Butler and Shook were respectively ranked second and sixth.
This is the first time that Texas has topped the recruiting rankings since Khat Bell and Haley Eckerman signed with the Longhorns in 2011. Since 2003, Texas head coach Jerritt Elliott has signed the second-best class during five recruiting cycles.
During the 2016 volleyball season, Texas junior Ebony Nwanebu shined on and off the court.
Sidelined by a back injury in 2015, Nwanebu bounced back this fall. She ranked second among the Longhorns with her 423 kills and 3.78 kills-per-set, and she also registered 74 blocks and 17 aces. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter was lauded by her conference (All-Big 12 first team) and country (AVCA All-America first team).
In the NCAA championship game on Saturday, Nwanebu recorded 16 kills to cap a week in which she earned all-tournament honors. Texas, however, was beaten by Stanford in four sets.
Nwanebu, who is majoring in youth and community studies, also endeared herself to the Texas fans with her #EbbOnTheWeb video series. Those videos were published on the volleyball program’s Twitter account throughout the season, and they featured Nwanebu interviewing and interacting with her teammates and coaches.
Here are some the memorable #EbbOnTheWeb videos from the 2016 season:
Dec. 16 and 17: Dancing and good deeds with Yaazie Bedart-Ghani and Mirta Baselovic
Throughout the season, Nwanebu was unable to book one guest: junior Mirta Baselovic. Following Texas’ sweep of Nebraska in the national semifinals, Nwanebu was aided by sophomore Yaazie Bedart-Ghani and ESPN’s Holly Rowe as she attempted to drum up enough support to coax Baselovic onto the show.
Baselovic, though, was not an easy get. The middle blocker tweeted that she would go on Nwanebu’s show if she raised $219 (a dollar amount that matched the likes of the Bedart-Ghani video at that time) for the International Rescue Committee, which is a humanitarian aid organization. Baselovic’s demands were quickly met — the fundraiser had earned over $800 as of Sunday morning — and she appeared in the #EbbOnTheWeb finale.
When the 2017 volleyball season begins, expect the Longhorns to be hungry.
Having reached the Final Four in each of the five past seasons, Texas is hardly starving for success. Texas, though, last won a national championship in 2012, and the team has been the NCAA Tournament’s runner-up the last two years. The latest silver showing — last Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Stanford in the NCAA championship match — ended the season on a sour note.
“Now everyone on the team has felt how it feels to make it to this point and not get the result that we want,” middle blocker Morgan Johnson said. “Now everybody has the same drive and has the same hunger for a championship.”
And when Johnson says everybody, the sophomore isn’t exaggerating. Fourteen of the 17 players on Texas’ roster are underclassmen.
Texas’ Micaya White (1) celebrates scoring against TCU with Claire Hahn(4) during a Big 12 Conference match at Gregory Gym Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. (Stephen Spillman / for American-Statesman)
Defensively, Texas will return its top four blockers. Junior libero Cat McCoy is poised to become the school’s all-time leader in digs, and freshman defensive specialist Autumn Rounsaville earned a career-high 18 digs in the championship match.
Texas also should be boosted by the return of middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu, who was sidelined by academic issues this season. Ogbogu will rejoin the Longhorns in January, and the three-time All-American will offset some of the depth problems that Texas dealt with during her absence.
“We’ve got the pieces next year to be extremely special,” Elliott said. “The areas of weakness that we had should be fixed. I think our backcourt could be even better, and I think our blocking could be significantly better. It’s my job to create the chemistry and unity to make that happen. Because on paper, it’s going to be one of our best teams.”
Texas’ Nicole Dalton(7), Chloe Collins(21) and Paulina Prieto Cerame(19) celebrate a win over Kansas State during a Big 12 Conference match at Gregory Gym Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. (Stephen Spillman / for American-Statesman)
While the roster will look similar in 2017, the loss of three seniors will leave the team with needs that must be addressed.
Setter Chloe Collins was a second-team All-American who exits Texas in fourth place on the school’s assists list, and outside hitter Paulina Prieto Cerame averaged 3.5 kills per set. Nicole Dalton had a role on defense, but the third-year captain’s leadership will be tougher to replace.
“There aren’t enough words in the dictionary to say how much they mean to us and the program,” Johnson said of the outgoing seniors. “They’ve given us so much confidence and love and the season has just been amazing because of them.”
Additional help is on the way for the Longhorns in the form of a four-player signing class that features three of the nation’s top six prospects. California-raised outside hitter Lexi Sun was rated by PrepVolleyball.com as the country’s best prospect, and Boling middle blocker Brionne Butler was ranked second.
Illinois native Ashley Shook was sixth on that list of top recruits, but she may attract the biggest spotlight on the Texas campus. With Collins now gone, Shook will join freshman Riley Fisbeck as the only setters on the roster.
“I would like to start as the starting setter, but I know that’s a lot for a freshman, so I’m going to come in ready to compete,” Shook said last weekend after taking part with Sun at last week’s Under Armour All-American match. “I want to win a Big 12 championship with the team and a national championship (in the) first year, and hopefully all four.”
September 18, 2016 – Texas (2) Ebony Nwanebu keeps a ball in play against Wisconsin during a NCAA volleyball match held at University of Texas in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Texas lost to Wisconsin in 5 sets, 3-2. (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN / RODOLFO GONZALEZ)
Following the loss to Stanford in the championship match, reporters gathered around Johnson, McCoy and Rounsaville in a silent — yet crowded — locker room. On the other side of Nationwide Arena, White and Nwanebu sat next to Elliott in a post-game press conference.
The vibe in both rooms was the same. The Longhorns have set their sights on Kansas City, which will host the 2017 Final Four.
“I have one more season to win a championship,” Nwanebu said. “I know Caya (White) said in the locker room that all of us need to work our butts to get to this point next year and have a different outcome, and I’m going to do everything in my power to do that.”
Texas junior Ebony Nwanebu was named a finalist for the Honda Sport Award for Volleyball alongside Kadie Rolfzen of Nebraska, Inky Ajanaku of Stanford and Sarah Wilhite of Minnesota.
The award has been given annually for 41 years by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards. It’s given to the top athlete in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. The winner is eligible to win the 2017 Honda Cup as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.
Nwanebu, a two-time First-Team All-American, completed her first full season at Texas with 423 kills while hitting a team-high .379 in 30 matches. She was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team in addition to being selected as the Austin Regional MVP. She was also named to the All-Big 12 First Team.
Sally Schlobohm is the only UT volleyball player to win the award, doing so in 1981. Overall, seven Texas volleyball players have been nominated on nine occasions. Past nominees include Haley Eckerman (2012, 2013), Juliann Faucette (2010), Destinee Hooker (2008, 2009), Demetria Sance (1998) and Katy Jameyson (1993).
The finalists are chosen by a panel of coaches from the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Over 1,000 NCAA member schools will vote on the winner which will be announced next week.
The winner will then be eligible to win the Honda Cup Award which will be presented in June.
Micaya White was named VolleyballMag.com’s freshman of the year while three other Longhorns were honored by the site.
Ebony Nwanebu was named a Division I First-Team All-American while Paulina Prieto Cerame and White were named to the second team. Chloe Collins was selected as a third-team member.
White is the third Longhorn honored as a freshman, following in the footsteps of Haley Eckerman (2011) and Demetria Sance (1995). She finished this season with 479 kills while hitting .273. White had 551 points, 83 blocks and 263 digs on the year.
White was named an AVCA First-Team All-American in addition to being named the Big 12 freshman of the year. Nwanebu joined White on the AVCA first team as she made 423 kills while hitting .379. Nwanebu was also named a finalist for the Honda Sport Award.
Prieto Cerame finished the season with 413 kills and 459 points.
Collins had 1,344 assists and 286 digs in addition to being named an AVCA Second-Team All-American.
Stanford’s Inky Ajanaku was named player of the year while coach of the year honors were given to Creighton’s Kirsten Bernthal Booth.
Recruiting is the lifeblood of every successful college sports team. While rankings and evaluations have developed a 24/7 following for fans of major sports (football, men’s and women’s basketball), gathering talent is no less important — in some cases, perhaps even more so — in sports with smaller followings.
A product of Cedar Hill High School near Dallas, Holmes has made an immediate impact for No. 16-ranked Texas. Through 10 games she had started eight times, with averages of 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks. The 6-foot-3 forward was ranked behind only Baylor’s Lauren Cox on ESPN’s HoopGurlz rankings, and chose Texas over Notre Dame and Tennessee.
Holmes has already drawn comparisons to some of the game’s greats.
2. Claire Adams, swimming, No. 3 overall
Imagine, as a 17-year-old, being disappointed to not make an Olympic team. Adams was the 2015 United States champion in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke, but broke her hand in preparation for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials and finished 46th in the 100 back. The Carmel, Indiana, native arrived at Texas this fall and appears to be rounding back into form. At the Texas Invitational earlier this month, she helped break a seven-year-old record in the 800-yard freestyle relay — swimming a team-best 1:43.05.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – AUGUST 09: Claire Adams on the awards stand for the Women’s 200 LC Meter Backstroke during the 2015 Phillips 66 National Championships at the Northside Swim Center on August 9, 2015 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
3. Orie Agbaji, volleyball, No. 4 overall
How good is Texas volleyball? On their way to a national runner-up finish, the Longhorns used blue-chip recruit Orie Agbaji sparingly. The 6-foot-2 middle blocker from Kansas City appeared in 15 matches, including last week’s national championship. Longhorns coach Jerritt Elliott has mentioned Agbaji as one of the building blocks for future squads, so expect to see a lot more of her next season.
The only women’s basketball program to snag two of the top six recruits wasn’t UConn, Notre Dame or Baylor. Longhorns coach Karen Aston may look back on this recruiting class when cutting down the nets someday soon. Sutton, a St. Louis native and the No. 2 point guard prospect in the Class of 2016, is already seeing minutes behind All-Big 12 point guard Brooke McCarty.
5. Lauren Case, swimming, No. 7 overall
A semifinalist at the U.S. Trials in the 200-meter butterfly, Case posted the sixth-best time during the prelims in Omaha. She also qualified for Trials in the 400 free and was a two-time member of the USA Swimming Junior National Team. The Woostock, Georgia, native kicked off her Texas career with a third-place finish at the Texas Invitational.
AUSTIN, TX – JANUARY 15: Lauren Case swims in the Women’s 100 meter butterfly during the Arena Pro Swim Series at Austin on January 15, 2016 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
6. Destiny Collins, track and field, No. 8
After her career concluded, a rival coach wrote on the Riverside County track and field website that “Collins will forever be the standard here in Riverside County as we don’t forsee anybody approaching her 4:40 (1,600 meters) and 9:53 (3,200) county records…. perhaps, ….ever?” That’s high praise. Even though she didn’t win state as a senior, Collins proved her status by winning at 3,000 meters in the USATF Junior Championships.
This name you’ve definitely heard before. It says something about the strength of Texas athletics as a whole that the most ballyhooed recruit in a major sport was actually the seventh-biggest recruit (by rankings) to land in Austin this year. So far the local product (St. Stephen’s) is averaging 9.5 points and 6.7 rebounds through 10 games.
Not as publicized but just as crucial for Texas coach Shaka Smart as he continues to build the Longhorns program, Jones was the No. 5-ranked point guard in the 2016 class. The MacArthur (Irving, Texas) product has started six games and is averaging 9.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Just off this list was James Banks, the No. 63 overall recruit.
9. Devin Duvernay, football, No. 36 overall
Another familiar name, Duvernay (Sachse) was originally signed with Baylor before the school’s sexual assault scandal and Bears coach Art Briles’ exit led him to Austin. The Longhorns were glad to welcome him, especially once he started hauling in long touchdown passes.
Devin Duvernay carries the ball for a TD during the second quarter of the Longhorn’s games against Kansas State in Manhattan, KS Saturday October 22, 2016 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas. RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL/AMERICAN-STATESMAN.
10. Brandon Jones, football, No. 40 overall
The top safety in the 2016 class, Jones came to Austin as a 4-star prospect from Nacogdoches. He featured in all 12 games as a true freshman, picking up 16 total tackles and two blocked punts. He’s widely considered the future at safety alongside DeShon Elliott.
Texas’ Brandon Jones(19) blocks the punt of UTEP’s Alan Luna(46) during the first half at Royal-Memorial Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. (Stephen Spillman / for American-Statesman)
We’ve relived the highlights and rehashed the low-lights , but individually there were a few Texas Longhorns who shone brighter than the rest in 2016. These 10 athletes were the biggest stars on the 40 Acres this year.
10. Breaunna Addison
Former Longhorns women’s tennis player Breaunna Addison. (TEXAS ATHLETICS)
Addison finished off her career as one of the most decorated tennis players in Texas history, and in the process helped the Longhorns to one of their most unlikely NCAA tournament runs ever. She was 37-4 in 2016 — the second-best winning percentage in program history — and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in singles with a win over No. 3 seed Francesca Di Lorenzo from UCLA. She also helped the Longhorns to the NCAA Round of 16.
Addison ended her career as a two-time Big 12 player of the year and three-time All-American, and claimed 109 singles victories.
9. Imani Boyette
Texas’ Imani Boyette, left, and UCLA’s Monique Billings fight for position under the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the regional semifinals of the women’s NCAA Tournament, Saturday, March 26, 2016, in Bridgeport, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Aside from her incredible story, Boyette is a heck of a basketball player. She averaged 11.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and blocked 104 shots during her senior season, and led the Longhorns to the Elite Eight with an 18-point, 10-rebound showcase in the Sweet 16 win over UCLA. She finished her career as the only Texas player to achieve 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 200 blocks.
Texas Longhorns Micaya White spikes the ball against Baylor Bears defenders on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016 at the Gregory Gym RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
As a redshirt freshman, White stood out on a team that made it all the way to the national championship and featured some of the best volleyball talent in the country. So much so, in fact, that she was named freshman of the year by VolleyballMag.com and picked up a first-team All-America honor from the American Voleyball Coaches Association.
White had 479 kills, 551 points, 83 blocks and 263 digs while hitting .273.
7. Connor Williams
University of Texas lineman Connor Williams warms up before the Longhorns game against Cal Sept. 19, 2015 at Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX.
If he were eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft, teams would be lining up to pull the trigger on Williams. The Longhorns’ 6-foot-6, 288-pound sophomore left tackle was named a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Football Writers Association of America. He also paved the way for D’Onta Foreman, Texas’ 2,000-yard rusher.
Texas Ebony Nwanebu (2) celebrates her kill against Texas Tech during a Big 12 Conference match at Gregory Gym Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. (Stephen Spillman / for American-Statesman)
After a back injury sidelined her last fall, Nwanebu — the former national freshman of the year at USC — soared in her first full season with the Longhorns. Her 423 kills and team-high .379 hitting percentage earned first-team All-American status and Honda Sport Award consideration.
Texas golfer Beau Hossler, seen here at the University of Texas Golf Club, has already won five individual tournaments this spring, helping the Longhorns vault to No. 1 nationally, according to Golfweek. RODOLFO GONZALEZ / AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Surely you know Beau. A teen sensation before he even stepped on UT’s campus, Hossler accomplished plenty once he got there. He won five events during his junior season and was named the Fred Haskins Award winner as the nation’s top collegiate golfer. He also led the Longhorns deep into the postseason before a major shoulder injury sidelined him for the national championship match against Oregon.
That injury might have been his defining moment as a Longhorn. After injuring his shoulder on the 16th hole, he played through agonizing pain and sunk the match-clinching putt to send Texas to the championship. He turned pro in July.
4. Townley Haas
Townley Haas of the United States poses for a photo with his gold medal on the Today show set on Copacabana Beach on August 10, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Here’s where this list really picks up steam. A case could be made for each of the top four at No. 1. Haas is a 20-year-old gold medalist, fresh off his first Olympic gold medal as part of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. He also made the final in the individual 200 free, finishing fifth in Rio. Haas, who was still a true freshman last spring, holds the NCAA, American, U.S. Open, NCAA Championship meet, school and Big 12 records in the 200-yard freestyle. He won NCAA championships in the 200 free, 500 free and 800 free relay.
Singapore’s Joseph Schooling shows off his gold medal in the men’s 100-meter butterfly medals ceremony during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Why Schooling over Haas? It really could go either way, but I’ll go with the guy who won his country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal at the Rio Olympics. Schooling’s came in an individual event, the 100-meter butterfly, while Haas won his as part of a relay. Oh, and Schooling beat Michael Phelps.
Singapore awarded Schooling a cool $740,000 for winning gold, causing the NCAA to reconsider its stance of allowing athletes to keep bonuses awarded by national federations. And in case you’re wondering, Schooling has four individual NCAA national championships to his name — including a record-breaking one in the 200 butterfly.
Legitimate cases could also be made for Jack Conger (national champion, gold medalist, subject of international investigation) and Will Licon (national champion), but I decided to spread the love and limit the list to two per sport.
Which brings us to…
2. D’Onta Foreman
Not much more needs to be written about Foreman’s 2016 season. He rushed for 2,028 yards, the second-most in Texas history. He did it in 11 games, and went from a virtual unknown to a potential first-round NFL Draft pick.
He’s ahead of the swimmers because, well, the swimmers didn’t have to swim with teammates (or opponents) on their backs. It would have been awfully entertaining if they had.
1. Courtney Okolo
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 20: (L-R) Natasha Hastings, Phyllis Francis, Allyson Felix and Courtney Okolo of the United States react after winning gold in the Women’s 4 x 400 meter Relay on Day 15 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
While Foreman didn’t get an invite to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, Okolo won her sport’s award as the best athlete in the country. After a year that included four national championships, an NCAA record and a gold medal, Okolo hoisted The Bowerman earlier this month.
Almost without exception, the best athletes at Texas are among the very best in their respective sports. With that in mind, I decided to choose these 10 athletes from 10 Longhorn teams. Here’s who you should look out for in 2017, in no particular order.
Bret Boswell, baseball
Texas’s Bret Boswell tags out UNLV Rebels A.J. VanMeetren at second base during the NCAA men’s college baseball game at the UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin ,Tex., Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2016. RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
After two disappointing seasons, Boswell caught fire over the summer for the Santa Barbara Foresters. He had a .392 batting average with a .470 on-base percentage, with 17 doubles and 10 home runs on the way to a California Collegiate League championship. The campaign earned Boswell recognition as the Perfect Game/Rawlings summer collegiate baseball player of the year. First-year Texas coach David Pierce will hope he is ready to bring that play to Austin, especially if he is called on to replace Kody Clemens in the lineup. Clemens is likely out for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Alexis Duncan, women’s track and field
When one leaves, another enters. Courtney Okolo was arguably the best athlete on campus in 2016, and won her first Olympic gold medal shortly after leaving. Duncan could be on a similar path. The 100-meter hurdle specialist was the 2016 USATF junior champion and placed fourth at the IAAF World Junior Championships in a personal-best 12.93 seconds. That time would have gotten her to the finals at last year’s NCAA Championships. Track and field junkies should check out the documentary series FloSports did on her DeSoto High School team this past spring.
Gia Doonan, rowing
Rowing? Heck yes, rowing. Dave O’Neill has quietly built one of the most dominant programs in the Big 12, and Doonan has been one of the catalysts. A two-time All-American, she spent the summer aiding Team USA to a gold medal at the 2016 World Rowing Under 23 Championships. All that’s left to accomplish in her senior year is a national championship.
Erica Wright, softball
Texas pitcher Erica Wright throws from the mound in the first inning against Baylor in 2015. Wright, missed all of the 2016 season with a rib injury.
During her freshman season in 2015, pitcher Erica Wright was so good that she beat out a former Big 12 freshman of the year — Tiarra Davis — for the No. 1 spot in the Longhorns’ pitching rotation. Davis had injuries that limited her playing time in 2015, but Wright filled in nicely with an 18-9 record, 2.42 ERA, 178 strikeouts and seven solo shutouts. The redshirt sophomore earned first-team All-Big 12 and third-team all-region honors as a freshman. Unfortunately, she had to take the entire 2016 season off with a rib injury. With a power offense behind her, Wright’s return in the circle might be the thing that gets the Longhorns back to the Women’s College World Series. Texas coach Connie Clark, who’s in her 21st year as the Longhorn’s coach, surely hopes Wright returns with her 2015 dominance.
Jack Conger, men’s swimming and diving
Conger is back for one last lap at Texas, and he’s bound to make it a good one. The senior already has four national championships and a gold medal from the 2016 Olympics in Rio to his name. In addition to trying to out-swim the competition, he’s trying to distance himself from the fallout of the Ryan Lochte scandal and the four-month ban he received from the USOC. All of which makes the current American record-holder in the 200-yard butterfly one of the most fascinating athletes on all of the 40 Acres.
Gavin Hall, men’s golf
EUGENE, OR – JUNE 1: Gavin Hall of texas hits out of a bunker on the first hole during the final round of the 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship at Eugene Country Club on June 1, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Someone has to replace the void left by 2016 Fred Haskins Award winner Beau Hossler. If the fall season was any indication, Hall might be that guy. In October, he led the Longhorns to victory by shooting a final-round 63 at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate Championship — the lowest round of the week by anyone. Hall took medalist honors twice as a junior, and was a semifinalist for the Jack Nicklaus Award.
Chris Warren III, football
Is the next great Texas running back waiting in the wings, or will Warren end up splitting time with Kyle Porter and/or some of the other young running backs? Warren looked primed for a breakout season before he suffered a season-ending injury at Oklahoma State. Watching D’Onta Foreman rush for more than 2,000 yards and win the Doak Walker Award should have added motivation during his recovery, and with most of the offensive line returning he’ll have holes to run through. Unless freshman Sam Ehlinger challenges Shane Buechele for the quarterback spot, Warren will be the one to watch heading into 2017.
As soon as she saw the pitch, Texas ran its offense through Hintzen. The freshman forward led the Longhorns in shots (46) and shots on goal (19) on her way to earning Big 12 freshman of the year. She only scored two goals, but with a work rate like the ball is bound to find the back of the net in 2017. Hintzen has also featured for the U.S. Women’s National Team at the Under 19 level, scoring a pair of goals last summer in New Zealand.
Texas sophomore John Burt spent his spring with the UT track team at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. RODOLFO GONZALEZ / AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Multiple-sport athletes are so rare at the Division I college level, but John Burt is doing it well. After a productive football season at wide receiver, he’ll put his speed to the test again this spring. As a freshman, Burt qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 110-meter hurdles after running a personal best 13.91 seconds, and ran the anchor leg on the 4×100 relay team that took ninth for All-American status.
Paulina Prieto Cerame’s volleyball career has come full circle.
The recent Texas graduate announced on her Instagram account on Tuesday that she had begun her professional career with Las Valencianas de Juncos, a Puerto Rico-based professional team. Prieto Cerame attended high school in Miami, but she spent much of her preteen years in Puerto Rico. Prieto Cerame told the American-Statesman last year that she was introduced to volleyball by her uncle, who managed a professional team in Puerto Rico.
Prieto Cerame, who graduated this past December with a degree in youth and community studies, spent the last three years at Texas. She began her collegiate career at Penn State, and Prieto Cerame won a national championship with the Nittany Lions in 2013.
Less than a month after the setter wrapped up her collegiate career at Texas, Collins has signed with a professional volleyball team that is based in Spain’s Canary Islands. Ahead of her first professional match on Saturday, Collins posted a picture of her IBSA CV Gran Canaria jersey on her Instagram account.
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