Wagner withdraws commitment to UT
AUSTIN — Samantha Wagner has options. She’d like to explore all of them before making the biggest decision of her life.
The Reagan star committed to Baylor before Hall of Famer Kim Mulkey decamped for LSU in April 2021. Almost a year later, Wagner committed to play for Texas coach Vic Schaefer, who turned Mississippi State into a powerhouse and has steered the Longhorns to the Elite Eight in each of his first two seasons.
Wagner also held offers from LSU, Stanford, Oregon and a slew of other Power Five programs before her March 24 commitment to Texas. Now, those programs and several others are expected to get back in on the Wagner sweepstakes.
On Thursday, about five months after donning a burnt orange Texas T-shirt in an announcement video, Wagner declared her recruitment is reopen with November’s early signing period looming.
“This is so hard — I spent nine years with (AAU club) Finest and will play four years for Reagan,” Wagner wrote in an update note posted to her Twitter account. “I guess my point is, when you know the fit is there, you stay and when you’re not sure, you have to go find the right fit. I have been wracking my brain over the last few weeks trying to decide if I 100% fit at UT, and as much as I hope I do, the answer is that I’m not sure and I need to reevaluate my options.”
Losing Wagner would deal a significant blow to Texas’ 2023 class, which still includes fourstar Cedar Park guard Gisella Maul.
Wagner averaged 26 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.9 blocks during her junior season. She won District 28-6A offensive player of the year and was selected as one of the Express-news’ player of the year finalists.
Wagner is currently No. 23 in ESPN’S 2023 national class rankings and No. 2 in the state behind Lake Ridge five-star guard Kylie Marshall. A 6foot-1 floor-spacing threat with solid defensive instincts — a must for any Schaefer recruit — Wagner could provide an immediate two-way impact for whatever team she ultimately signs with.
“I appreciate everyone so much and I know, as much grief as I will get on social media, it’s still better to make sure I am making the right decision for me for the long term,” Wagner wrote. “I am reopening my recruitment.”