The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women’s Basketball signs pair of top-10 recruits, Bjorn and Crittendon
11.20.2025 | Women's Basketball
Crittendon is ranked No. 8 and Bjorn is No. 10 in ESPN Class of 2026 rankings.
AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas women's basketball head coach Vic Schaefer announced the signing of top-10 recruits Addison Bjorn (Parkville, Mo.) and Brihanna Crittendon (Thornton, Colo.) on Thursday.
Bjorn, a 6-2 guard from Parkville, Mo., earned the 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year for Missouri and is on the watch list for the Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year Trophy. Bjorn, the No. 10 ranked recruit by ESPN in the 2026 class, earned 2025 Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 6 Player of the Year honors and was a 2025 Naismith High School All-America honor mention selection. In the 2024-25 season at Parkville South High School, Bjorn averaged 21.9 points per game to go along with 12.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.3 steal and one 1 blocked shot. Bjorn is the all-time leading scorer in the history of her high school with currently 1,636 points, has the individual scoring record at 36 points in a game and has recorded 38 career double-doubles. Bjorn is a three-time gold medalist with USA Basketball and teamed up with current Longhorn Jordan Lee to win gold in the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup this past summer in the Czech Republic. Bjorn and current Longhorn Aaliyah Crump both earned gold medals as part of Team USA at the 2023 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.
"We are so excited to welcome Addison Bjorn and her family Darren, Karie, Jack and Carson to the 40 acres," Schaefer said. "Addison is someone we have been recruiting for a long time now and it's great to finally add her to our Longhorn family. She is a three-time gold medal winner with USA Basketball and has always been a proven winner, doing whatever her team needs her to do versus any given opponent. Addison will bring toughness, hard work and a competitive spirit along with an incredible skill set being able to score at all three levels. She can also play multiple positions, which will allow us to be very difficult to defend and allow us to continue to be a tough, physical and aggressive defensive team as well. We are honored and excited to add her to our program."
"I chose Texas because of the strong culture and it really felt like home," Bjorn said. "It's an amazing opportunity for me to compete on the biggest stages and against the best competition in the country. My goal is to do whatever it takes to help bring a National Championship to The University of Texas."
Crittendon, a 6-3 forward from Thornton, Colo., averaged 28.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.9 steals as a junior Riverdale Ridge High School. She was the fastest in the history of her high school male or female to reach 2,000 points. In 2024 Crittendon led Riverdale Ridge to their first state championship in program history. Crittendon had a double-double in the state championship game with 22 points and 16 rebounds while shooting 10-of-16 from the field. On the same night she received the Sportswomen of Colorado Player of the Game award. Crittendon attended the 2025 Women's Junior National Team minicamp in April in Tampa and was named a finalist for the 2024 USA Women's U17 National Team. Crittendon is on the watch list for the Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year Trophy. Crittendon plans to major in business at Texas.
"We are very excited to welcome Brihanna Crittendon and her family to the 40 acres," Schaefer said. "We had a definite need at the power forward position and we feel like Bri with her size, athleticism and skill set will really be able to be that monster big guard that can play multiple positions for us. She has the toughness and the competitive spirit as well as the physicality that makes her a perfect fit for our program. She comes from an incredible family, mother Chelsea and father Greg along with her brother Bryce have been so great throughout this process and fun to get to know. Bri is another difference player that should be able to come in and compete right away again having the ability to play multiple positions."
"Texas was everything I was looking for," Crittendon said. "The culture, the players, the staff and the environment. Add in the University's strong commitment to women's sports and it just felt right. It's the SEC and I'm excited to be a Longhorn."
With the additions of Bjorn and Crittendon that marks eight top-10 ranked recruits that Texas women's basketball has signed under head coach Vic Schaefer. The Longhorns have had four top-10 recruiting class rankings in the five years under Schaefer and 2026 will mark the fifth in six years.
Bjorn and Crittendon join the Longhorns 2026 class that includes Aaliah "Lizzy" Spaight (ESPN No. 20) and Amalia Holguin (ESPN No. 57). Spaight, Bjorn and Crittendon are all on the watch list for the Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year Trophy.
