As Texas basketball season nears, Moore, Codio working their way back from knee injuries

While the Texas women's basketball team is nine practices into its preseason, two Longhorns are still working their way back onto the court.

Vic Schaefer met with the media Wednesday, and the UT coach provided injury updates for Aaliyah Moore and Jordana Codio. Both are recovering from knee injuries. Moore hasn't played since the ninth game of the 2022-23 season. Codio missed all of last season after her third knee surgery.

Schaefer said Moore has been cleared for noncontact drills and half-court work. She is allowed to do some contact drills in those half-court sets. Codio, meanwhile, has been cleared to participate in half of UT's practices. Schaefer said that workload will increase to 75% next week.

Schaefer said both players will be reevaluated in a couple of weeks.

A junior forward, Moore came on strong at the end of her freshman year and played well during UT's run to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. Earlier this month, she was an honorable mention selection on the All-Big 12 preseason team.

When healthy, Codio will add depth in the backcourt. The 6-foot-1 guard was rated as the No. 67 prospect in the 2022 recruiting class.

Swan song for Shay?

Even though Shay Holle hasn't played in a home game since last March, she did have a milestone moment at Moody Center in May. Holle graduated in the spring with a finance degree, and her ceremony was held at UT's on-campus arena.

Holle is in the midst of her fourth year of college. She was asked Wednesday how she got through the McCombs School of Business in just three years while also playing basketball. She explained that she had earned college credit while attending Westlake High School and that summer school also helped.

"I was in 15 hours every semester during the school year too," Holle said. "It's definitely a load, but there's so many resources here. If you have a communication with (the professors) and just let them know what's going on, they're always usually really helpful. Coach Schaefer knew my situation, too. ... It was definitely a challenging but awesome experience."

Holle referred to herself as a senior several times during her media session, but she has an extra year of eligibility left because of the NCAA's COVID-19 exemption. Holle said she will probably use her COVID year, and Schaefer labeled sixth-year guard Shaylee Gonzales as the team's only expected departure after this season. Those plans aren't concrete, however, so Holle said she will try to enjoy this season as much as possible.

"I kind of want to treat everything like it's my last," she said. "If not, then even better. I don't want to look back and regret anything."

Former walk-on earns respect, scholarship

Last week, Texas put sophomore guard Sarah Graves on scholarship. Graves joined the Longhorns as a walk-on ahead of the 2022-23 season. On Wednesday, Schaefer said she had definitely earned that scholarship.

Explained Schaefer: "She's the ultimate teammate. If me and you were going to pick teams for H-O-R-S-E, she's probably going to go in our top two drafts; she can make shots. Her and Rori (Harmon) started the whole coming in early, staying late this summer in early June. Those two were in here, and then it kind of gradually evolved to Rori and Shaylee and her, and then the next thing you know, I've got my whole team in here. She's earned her way; she can play at this level; she's a great teammate. She has their respect, and she has my respect. I like rewarding kids that are all-in and she's all-in. Always glad to do that for somebody that I think has earned it, and she's earned it."

Freshman Madison Booker added to PG depth chart

It had been believed that Gisella Maul, a Cedar Park graduate who joined the Longhorns midway through last season as she rehabbed a knee injury, would be Harmon's backup at point guard this year. But Schaefer said he might use freshman Madison Booker to spell Harmon.

Booker is listed on the roster as a 6-1 forward. Don't let that description fool you, though. Schaefer said Booker is "probably the second-best passer on our team behind Rori. You're probably going to see Madison play some point guard for us. She's very comfortable with the ball in her hands."

On Wednesday, Booker said she has worked a lot on her ball-handling and has confidence in her abilities. She told the American-Statesman this summer that ex-NBA star Rajon Rondo was one of the players after whom she tried to model her game.

"Rajon Rondo, I've been a big fan," Booker explained. "When I tell people that, they're very shocked. Rondo's IQ was off the charts. He was a great point guard for the Celtics, and that always just caught my eye. The fast passes he made, I loved it, and I always wanted to be like him."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas basketball notes about injuries, graduations, scholarships