Are Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd Set to Welcome New Teammate? Meet UConn’s Target 5 Star Recruit Jacy Abii

With the departure of Nika Muhl and Aaliyah Edwards to the WNBA, the Huskies are now hunting for recruits. While senior Azzi Fudd looks set to make a return from injury to play alongside Paige Bueckers next season, they will need fresh faces. So, simply put, UConn will be undergoing rebuilding in terms of chemistry and team strategies. The Huskies’ focus is now on the five-star recruit from Texas, Jacy Abii. With much left to contemplate about the team, let’s learn about this refreshing new talent who could grace the Huskies with her skills.

Born in December 2007, Jacy Abii is proving to be the next big thing whose collegiate debut will likely be a blazing thunder. After attending Liberty High School, Abii will move to the Legion Prep Academy. The sophomore guard showed impressive skills and led the Frisco Liberty to their second consecutive Class 5A state championship title with a win over Mansfield Timberview. Seeing the potential for greatness in Abii, colleges were bound to come knocking. And the UConn Huskies were the first. But they certainly aren’t the last…

“After a great conversation, I am blessed to announce that I have received an opportunity to play for@UConnWBB. Thank you [Coach Geno Auriemma] for believing in me! 🤍” Jacy Abii wrote. Teaming up with seasoned players like Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd can teach her a few tricks of the game. This has been evident in the case of a brewing Husky, Ashlynn Shade, whose performance has grown significantly since she was recruited. Also, Abii’s towering height adds a positive element to her robust rebounding and defense.

Last year, she averaged 20.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3 steals, and 1.1 blocks. Then, she scored a remarkable double-double with 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists, posing a strong impact on the team’s collective performance. Moreover, Jacy Abii went 11-for-21 from the field and 4-for-9 from beyond the arc in the state championship game. As a result, Jacy’s performance rewarded her with the honor of All-Area Girls Basketball Player of the Year, carrying the team to a 60-51 championship victory.

The 6-foot-1 guard, although so young, maintained a balance between growth and production. She boasts a strong vision on both offense and defense and showcases a good wingspan on the perimeter. Given her 6-foot body frame, Jacy Abii is a real threat beyond the arc, but more importantly, under the bucket.

Going beyond high school, Abii attended the USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team minicamp in Dallas earlier this year. Furthermore, she attended another training camp in Colorado Springs, and after 10 days, she was voted into the 2023 Women’s U16 National Team in June 2023. In the FIBA Americas U16 Championship last year, Abii won multiple gold medals. She started all 6 games, averaging 8.3 points, 5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2 steals.

Her performance was one of the major reasons the team maintained a 6-0 record, with a tally of 19 assists, the second-highest on the team. Notably, these abilities make Jacy Abii a standout choice for major conference recruitments. As attractive as that UConn offer will be for her, there’s another program just as attractive that’s come knocking, too.

The most successful team or the reigning champions: Jacy Abii has a choice to make

Fresh off of winning the NCAA title this year, Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks are already looking to strengthen their ranks. Jacy Abii tweeted, “After a great conversation with [Coach Dawn Staley], I have been blessed with an opportunity to play for @GamecockWBB! Thank you for believing in me! 🙏🏾”

There’s no doubt that the 6-foot-1 guard will have numerous opportunities and the right exposure to grow while playing with the Gamecocks, too. The Huskies may be the most successful women’s basketball program in the nation, but based on recent form, the chance to work with the legendary Dawn Staley at South Carolina might be too good to pass. Especially considering how Jacy Abii’s gotten used to winning trophies.

The Gamecocks had an unbeaten record this season, culminating with a remarkable 87-75 victory over Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes – the same team that beat the Huskies in the Final Four. That said, Jacy Abii’s performances over the past few years have helped her establish herself as one of the best players in the 2026 class. And if she keeps this up, there’s no question that more programs would want her on their side, making her decision all the more difficult.