Elite UConn pledge Charli Collier flips to Texas women’s basketball

It’s not often that Geno Auriemma and the Connecticut Huskies suffer a defeat in any form or fashion, but that became the case on Friday with Barber Hills High forward Charli Collier flipping to the Texas Longhorns.

“Being closer to home and representing the state of Texas that has been so good to me," Collier said in her Twitter announcement. "I have a good relationship with the coaching staff, they're like family to me. And my family and friends get to see my play & grow into a successful individual at such a prestigious University."

A five-star prospect, Collier is an elite talent by any measure, as evident by her No. 2 overall ranking in the ESPN HoopGurlz rankings.

Furthermore, Collier is ranked as the nation’s No. 1 forward prospect and already boasts a resume that includes back-to-back TABC 1st-team 5A All-State honors in each of the previous two seasons, along with having played for the USA U17 National Team in 2016.

Max Olson provided an evaluation of what the ‘Horns latest commit brings to the table, via ESPN:

"Skilled big-forward finishes plays in traffic, pounds glass, finds the charity stripe; face up game gains respect to 15'; mobile in transition, handles, passes on break; cleans up missed shots with regularity; the elite front court prospect in the class of 2018."

Collier’s pledge gives Karen Aston’s 2018 class a new headliner and its sixth commit overall. Collier joins Liberty Hills product Sedona Prince as Aston’s five-star pledges this cycle after hauling in three in 2017.