Lady Phenom continues its premier coverage all around the country, as we go down to Texas this time. We had a terrific opportunity to talk to one of the top players in the country in 2026 Jacy Abii from Frisco Liberty, as she is a rising star that has already accomplished so much.
Already regarded as one of the top players in the country, a state champion with her high school team, and a gold medalist, there isn’t much Abii hasn’t already accomplished in her short career. That is why we were able to carve out time, learn more about her as a person and a player, dive more into her game, and talk about her early recruitment. She broke it ALL down for us in a terrific 1-on-1 interview; see what she had to say.
Lady Phenom: How was everything this summer for you' What all happened, who did you play for, and what were all the experiences like for you overall'
Abii: This summer was definitely a movie, I would say! I played with Texas U16 GUAA. We were able to win 90 percent of our games but fell short of a national championship by eight points, unfortunately. I would say the summer was still a successful run seeing my teammates and I had so many opportunities knocking at our door. I am super proud of my team’s development. My favorite part of this summer was undeniably winning a gold medal with some of my new favorite people. At first, the USA trials were scary, and I didn’t expect much out of it. I was just grateful to be there and felt blessed to be given the opportunity to compete for a spot on the team. It was a confidence test for me to be in a gym with the nation’s best 26’s, 25’s, and more. But I ended up making the team through God’s grace and becoming sisters with 11 amazing, talented girls. The coaches were also amazing. Another interesting thing about my team is the fact that I’ve been playing with my day 1, Jaidyn Gunter, since age 3. It’s been special to grow in this game with her. We know we still have work to do. But I’ve truly enjoyed all the experiences this summer has presented and can only look back now and thank God and all the people that made it all possible.
Lady Phenom: What was it like to represent the USA and that entire experience'
Abii: The USA experience was a blessing and a super fun experience that made me feel honored to be there. So many other athletes could have been there. I was very fortunate to be representing my country and getting to know so many other great players.
Lady Phenom: How would you best describe your game and how you like to operate'
Abii: Over the summer, one of my main focuses was leadership and defense. The leadership goal was the primary reason my parents felt playing 16U one more year would be good for me. Defensively I believe I grew stronger as well, so much so that I look forward to playing 17U for the rest of my AAU journey. I didn’t get the National Title which is something I really wanted to do for my teammates. Though falling short of that title was tough emotionally for me I do see the benefits already of that loss. It’s caused me to analyze my game more and start working on some of my weaknesses. If I shoot the ball this season the way I did last season I believe we are National Champions. So, I’ve promised myself that my jump shot will stay my primary focus now until college. There will be no more let-ups in this area. One of the strengths I’m known for is my playmaking abilities. I really enjoy setting my teammates up for good looks. And I love making the extra pass. I saw a lot of double teams and zones set up to stop or slow me down this season. But I feel my ability to find an open teammate help us to an 87% win percentage in spite of those defensive strategies. As far as my greatest strengths go, I would say my athleticism helps me impact the game a lot. I believe my instincts defensively on and off the ball combined with my athleticism is probably one of my greatest strengths most people might say. I love jumping in the passing lanes for steals and converting those into two points or getting deflections for my teammates to grab. I also love making the offensive player I’m guarding pick up the ball to give my teammates the same opportunity to get a steal. Overall, I would describe my game as super versatile mainly because I’m so comfortable anywhere on the court on both ends. Lastly, being able to defend the 1-5 and defend it well helps my team reach and hit goals though I still have a lot of work to do.
Lady Phenom: Recruitment has gone well. What is your excitement about all that has been going on and schools coming your way'
Abii: Recruitment has gone well. I am definitely excited to see what God has in store for my future. I have not begun any cancellations or overall deep thought into where I will go for my college career. I’m genuinely happy to speak to any coaches that want to get to know me. Even though I currently have no idea where I’m going, I do know it will feel right and I’m believing God will guide my decision. The recruitment process is exciting and there is a lot to take in. But I’ve found once you get the hang of it, it’s fun to get to know the different coaches, their regiments, their schools, and styles of play. I am grateful for all the schools that have even looked my way and I see it as motivation to keep working on my game. My parents remind me to enjoy this journey, go hard but remain humble because tomorrow really isn’t promised unfortunately due to how unpredictable life is. I’m just so grateful to be where I am at present.
Lady Phenom: What offers do you currently hold'
Abii: Ohio State, Pittsburgh, USC, Vanderbilt, TCU, Cincinnati, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Kansas, Maryland, Illinois, Alabama, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Liberty, Louisville, Arkansas, Houston, Mississippi, SMU, Arizona, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Tennessee, UCLA, North Carolina, ULM, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Baylor.
Lady Phenom: Have you been able to make any visits to schools'
Abii: I have unofficially visited Liberty, Houston, SMU, Baylor, Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M so far. And I’m looking forward to visiting more schools in my state as well as far out of state. I don’t have a preference when it comes to distance. I’m just looking for the right fit.
Lady Phenom: Would you say that any schools are standing out early on or have been recruiting you stronger than others as of right now'
Abii: Right now, I’m just trying to build relationships and I look forward to following the different coaching styles. I can’t wait for the college season to start again. To watch coaches that I’ve been blessed to connect with do what they love and push players to be the best they can be. I will be paying attention. As far as which schools currently stick out right now, I’ll just say I believe I will be just as happy helping a school build a wave as I would be joining a wave if it’s the right fit. For me, it’s about finding the right fit more than it’s about going where everyone thinks I should go. But my family and I have taken note of all the schools that have been showing interest early, have been at my games, and seem to be the most interested. This means a lot to me.