Future Longhorn Baller

13-year-old basketball star commits to University of Texas

One super talented Texas teen is making her Longhorn dreams come true.

According to San Antonio Express-News, 13-year-old Deja Kelly has been recruited to play basketball for the University of Texas women's team ... in 2020. The San Antonio seventh grader gave a verbal commitment to women's basketball coach Karen Aston onSaturday, October 18 during the Texas vs. Iowa State football game, the newspaper reports.

Though she's only 13, the recruiting process isn't new for Kelly. Multiple colleges have been scoping her out since she was 11, Kelly tells the Today show, which ran a segment spotlighting the teen on Monday morning. (Today also notes that UT cannot comment on Kelly's verbal commitment because of NCAA rules.)

While the verbal commitment does not legally bind Kelly to UT, no one is concerned about her dedication to the team. Her father, Darren Kelly, played for the UT men's basketball team from 1999 until 2001, and her mother confirms that Kelly's desire is to be a Longhorn. "I know kids change their minds on a daily basis," Theresa Nunn, tells ESPN. "But this is something she's been pretty concrete with for the past five or six years."

With all the talk of college ball and 2020 commitments, it's easy to forget that the 5-foot-8-inch point guard is still a seventh grader attending Luna Middle School. But, if all goes according to her plans — and her dreams — she'll be a Longhorn soon enough.

Kelly will be eligible to sign an official letter of intent to enter an athletics contract with the school in November of 2019, states the San Antonio Express-News.

Watch Kelly's appearance on the Today show below:

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Team History

Former Westlake quarterback leads Clemson in first game against Texas

Getty Images

With Cade Klubnik on the roster, the teams have more history than some might think.

The Texas Longhorns will take on the ACC champion Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoff, marking the first time Texas and Clemson have ever faced off on the football field. And while the matchup itself obviously carries enormous weight nationally, it will also include a fascinating local storyline.

The matchup will feature the return of Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, an Austin native who quarterbacked local powerhouse Westlake for two seasons.

Klubnik's 86 touchdown passes and 7,390 passing yards are both Westlake school records, notably better than the stats of Drew Brees, Nick Foles, and Sam Ehlinger – all former Westlake quarterbacks who made it to the NFL.

While at Westlake, Klubnik led the Chaps to two state championships in 2020 and 2021. Notably, in the 2020 Class 6A Division 1 State Championship, Westlake faced off against Southlake Carroll, a North Texas powerhouse quarterbacked by current Longhorn Quinn Ewers.

The two put on an offensive showcase throughout, as both Klubnik and Ewers accounted for well over 300 yards of offense. Klubnik passed for 220 yards and a touchdown on 18-of-20 passing, while also running for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Ewers threw for 351 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions on 23-of-39 passing. Westlake won the game 52-34.

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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