Eve Long, the No. 5 overall recruit and top forward in the 2027 SC Next Super 60, committed to Notre Dame, choosing the Fighting Irish over UCLA, Duke, UConn and Kansas. The 6-foot-3 Kansas native gives coach Niele Ivey her first pledge in the class and becomes the third 2027 five-star to commit, following Caroline Bradley (LSU) and Ogechi Okeke (Baylor).

Long's résumé is elite: she's the reigning Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 32.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals for Olathe South High School. She won gold with USA Basketball's 2025 U16 FIBA AmeriCup team, was named to its All-Star Five, and scored 52 points with Southwest Select on the Adidas 3SSB circuit. Her ability to finish at the rim, attack off the dribble and shoot from beyond the arc makes her one of the most complete players in the 2027 class.

Notre Dame's recruiting momentum stays strong. The Irish finished the 2026 cycle ranked fifth nationally with five top-100 recruits, headlined by five-star wing Jacy Abii. After reaching the Elite Eight last season with Hannah Hidalgo leading the way, Notre Dame sits No. 16 in ESPN's Way-Too-Early top 25. Long is the highest-ranked recruit since Kate Koval in 2024, and her arrival keeps the Irish among the class favorites for 2027.