Highly recruited post commits to join Lobo women's basketball

The UNM women’s basketball team picked up a sizeable commitment Thursday when 6-foot-4 Emma Najjuma announced plans to join the Lobos starting in 2025-26.

A native of Gwafu, Uganda, Najjuma will play as a redshirt freshman at New Mexico Junior College this season and join the Lobos as a sophomore. She made a campus visit to UNM last week and announced her commitment via Instagram.

Najjuma did not play last season because of a knee injury but attracted recruiting interest from a number of high-profile women’s programs. She recently visited Pittsburgh and was being recruited by Louisville and North Carolina among other schools.

Najjuma is ranked among the nation’s top junior college recruits for 2025, including at No. 3 according to Collegiate Basketball Report. She played one season of American prep basketball at Virginia’s Christchurch School as a senior in 2022-23. Prior to that, she played at Mount St. Mary’s High School in Uganda.

Lobos coach Mike Bradbury confirmed UNM is recruiting Najjuma. NCAA rules prohibit coaches from commenting on unsigned players.

Najjuma became the fourth player to commit to the Lobos for 2025-26, joining three current high school seniors. They are Laila Abdurraqib (5-7 point guard from Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis), Kaia Foster (6-3 guard/forward from Chiawana High in Pasco, Washington) and Tyler Jones (5-11 combo guard from Hutchison School in Memphis).