Eve Long Dropped 52 Points: Every NCAA Title Contender Just Got Put On Notice

Holy smokes, folks! The future of women's college hoops just got a whole lot clearer, and it is absolutely WILD. Eve Long, the consensus fifth-best recruit in the entire 2027 class by ESPN, has officially committed to Notre Dame! This isn't just a big signing, this is a statement. Her reps at The Team confirmed it Wednesday, and if you weren't paying attention before, you gotta start now. This 6-foot-3 forward from Kansas is Niele Ivey's first major get for the 2027 class, and let me tell you, the rest of the country is already shaking their heads.

The Talent Is Insane, Folks

Seriously, this kid is built different. Head coaches across the nation are calling Long a "special talent," a "premier rebounder," and a "versatile forward with a high motor." Oh, and her 3-point shot? It's improving. We're talking about a player who, just a few weeks ago, dropped a mind-blowing 52 points in an AAU game for her Southwest Select club. Fifty-two points! That's not a typo. You just don't see that every day. Team USA definitely noticed her insane skill set too, inviting her to trials for their U17 camp. And get this: last year, she played with Team USA’s U16 squad at the 2025 FIBA U16 Women's AmeriCup in Mexico and helped the Americans win gold. She started all six games, putting up 11.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game, and even landed a spot on the All-Star team for the event. Back home, she was Gatorade's Player of the Year in Kansas as a junior for Olathe South High School, averaging a ridiculous 32.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 assists across 25 games in the 2025-26 season. Yeah, she's that good.

Coach Ivey Is Building Something Special

Long chose Notre Dame over powerhouses like UConn and UCLA, who were her other final two choices, but she had offers from basically everyone: Duke, Kansas, Baylor, Tennessee, Texas, USC, TCU, Maryland, North Carolina, LSU, Iowa, and South Carolina. So why Notre Dame? Long herself said, "The connection I felt with Coach Ivey, her staff and players was one of the main reasons why I chose Notre Dame. I really believe that they will help me reach my goals, and in turn we will accomplish amazing things. I’m really excited to be a part of the Notre Dame family." You can just feel that excitement, right? This commitment is huge for Notre Dame, especially with All-American Hannah Hidalgo exhausting her eligibility after next season. Coach Ivey is clearly building for the future, and she's not messing around. After an Elite Eight run this past season, the Irish are already bringing in a stacked 2026 recruiting class. They've got four incoming freshmen ranked inside ESPN’s top 40, headlined by 6-foot-2 wing Jacy Abii from Texas. Plus, they snagged Princeton transfer Madison St. Rose, a two-time All-Ivy League selection, and five-star 2025 recruit Leah Macy is expected to be healthy this season. Adding Eve Long to that mix for 2027? Notre Dame is absolutely loading up for a national title push. Get ready, the next few years are gonna be electric!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.