Texas women’s basketball head coach Vic Schaefer announced the signings of 6-7 center Jayla Forbes of Alabaster, Ala., and 6-2 guard Qandace Samuels of District Heights, Md. The two top prospects push the Longhorns’ 2027 recruiting class to No. 4 in the nation, according to ESPN. ESPN ranks Samuels the No. 10 recruit in the class of 2027 and Forbes No. 14, and both players were named to the 2026-27 Naismith Girls’ High School Player of the Year Watch List.
Forbes’s career started earlier than most. She began playing varsity basketball in seventh grade and had passed 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds by her sophomore year of high school. She played at Thompson High School in 2023-24 before moving to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., for 2024 through 2026, and ESPN now ranks her the No. 1 player from Florida. She has also competed internationally as a member of the 2026 USA Basketball U18 National Team, winning gold at the 2026 AmeriCup in Irapuato, Mexico.
Her play on the Nike EYBL circuit was just as strong. Forbes averaged 16.2 points and nine rebounds per game and shot 64.6 percent from the field and 79.2 percent from the free-throw line, all in just over 20 minutes per game. That production earned her 2026 First Team All-EYBL 17U honors and the 2026 Nike EYBL Defensive Player of the Year 17U award. Forbes also lettered in volleyball and track and field in high school.
Forbes said she chose Texas for its culture and for how Schaefer’s staff develops post players.
“Texas is a place where I will be challenged to grow as a person and as an aspiring professional,” Forbes said. “Team culture and chemistry are important to me as everyone is working to be the best version of themselves daily and the focus is on winning a national championship. Coach Schaefer consistently and effectively utilizes his post players, continually challenges and develops them, and has a vision for an efficient scoring center.”
Schaefer said Forbes fills one of the most important needs in the class.
“Jayla brings so much to the table with her size, strength, and versatility,” Schaefer said. “She has great hands, runs the floor extremely well, and has the ability to stretch the defense all the way to the three-point line. Her footwork around the rim is elite, and her combination of skill, physicality, and versatility will allow her to make an immediate impact on our program. This was a position of great importance for us in this recruiting class, and Jayla checks every box.”
Schaefer also welcomed Forbes’s family to the program, naming her mom, Laura, her grandma, Bonnie, and her sisters, Lauriana and Laykyn, as an important part of her journey.
Samuels brings a winning record to Austin. She helped Bishop McNamara win back-to-back Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championships in 2025 and 2026, and she had 18 points and 12 rebounds against Bishop Ireton in last season’s 59-45 victory. With Team Takeover on the EYBL circuit, she averaged 19.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.9 steals and won the 2025 Nike EYBL championship. In 2026, she was invited to the USA Basketball U18 National Team training camp and attended the women’s junior national team April minicamp in Phoenix.
Her list of honors includes First Team All-Met, MaxPreps Junior First Team All-American, Naismith Honorable Mention All-American and All Metro Player of the Year.
“I chose Texas because it checked every box for me,” Samuels said. “From the opportunity to receive an outstanding education, compete and win at the highest level, to learning and developing under an exceptional coaching staff and playing in a system that fits my game. Most importantly, I believe Texas has everything it takes to win a national championship and I’m confident I can play a major role in helping bring that championship to Texas!”
Schaefer described Samuels as a big guard who can affect the game in several ways. He also credited the programs that helped develop her.
“Qandace is an incredibly talented player who brings a unique combination of size, length, versatility, and athleticism,” Schaefer said. “As a big guard, she has tremendous court awareness, runs the floor exceptionally well, and possesses the ability to score at all three levels. Qandace has been developed in two outstanding basketball programs at Bishop McNamara and Team Takeover under Coach Ron James, who does a tremendous job preparing players for the next level. Their philosophies and approach to the game align extremely well with ours here at Texas, making Qandace a natural fit in our program.”
Schaefer pointed to Samuels’s toughness and her family as well, naming her mom, Shanda, her dad, Qwanzi, her brothers, Qayden and Qwanzi Jr., and her sisters, Qadence, Qaylynn, Alana and Aleah.
“She plays with an edge, embraces physicality, and has a natural desire to compete,” Schaefer said. “Those are qualities we value tremendously in our program, and we know she will bring that same mentality to the Forty Acres. We are excited about the impact she will make as a Longhorn.”
