Eve Long, the 6‑foot‑3 forward who has been hailed as the fifth‑best prospect in the 2027 class by ESPN, announced on Monday that she will wear a Notre Dame jersey rather than one from UConn or UCLA. Her representatives confirmed the commitment to USA TODAY Sports, noting that the decision was influenced by the strong relationship she developed with Coach Niele Ivey and the Irish coaching staff.
A Global Player with Proven Success
Long’s résumé stretches far beyond high school highlights. She helped the United States capture gold at the 2025 FIBA U16 Women’s AmeriCup in Mexico, where she averaged 11.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game and earned a spot on the tournament’s All‑Star team. Earlier that year she scored 52 points for her AAU club, Southwest Select, and was named Gatorade’s Player of the Year in Kansas as a junior.
Notre Dame is leveraging Long’s arrival to reinforce a recruiting class that already includes standout talents such as Jacy Abii, a 6‑foot‑2 wing from Texas, and Madison St. Rose, a Princeton transfer and two‑time All‑Ivy League selection. The class also features five‑star forward Leah Macy, who the program expects to be fully healthy this season, and aims to complement the returning star Hannah Hidalgo.
Coach Niele Ivey emphasized the importance of chemistry, stating that Long’s versatility and rebounding prowess will add a new dimension to the team’s interior play. The coaching staff believes the incoming group can sustain the Irish’s competitive edge as they look toward the upcoming campaign.