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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Heading into this past weekend, Texas women's basketball forward Justice Carlton already had a biography full of fun facts and interesting information.
The sophomore's name was inspired by a fictional character played by Janet Jackson in a 1993 movie.
Her mother, Kacy, still ranks among the all-time leaders in blocks at Baylor.
In recent months, Carlton even started her own cookie company.
Texas forward Justice Carlton steals the ball away from South Carolina guard Raven Johnson during the first half of the Southeastern Conference tournament title game March 8, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (Chris Carlson/Associated Press)
On the court, Carlton was a top-rated recruit and a McDonald's All-American in the 2024 class. Last year she earned SEC freshman of the week honors twice and she's responsible for one of just six 30-point performances by a Longhorn during Vic Schaefer's six seasons as Texas' coach.
And now, Carlton is an all-tournament honoree in the SEC.
MORE:What Vic Schaefer's jacket told us about Texas basketball's SEC Tournament performance
Carlton scored 13 of her 15 points in the first quarter of Sunday's 78-61 win over South Carolina in the SEC Tournament championship game. That effort at Bon Secours Wellness Arena earmed Carlton honors alongside UT teammates Madison Booker and Rori Harmon on the SEC's all-tournament team. Booker was MVP of the team, which also included South Carolina's Joyce Edwards and Raven Johnson, LSU's MiLaysia Fulwiley and Ole Miss star Cotie McMahon.
"I did start to feel myself after a certain point (in the South Carolina game)," Carlton said. "But, yeah, I really just tried to provide for my teammates and do whatever they need me to do."
Texas forward Justice Carlton reacts in the first half against South Carolina during the championship game of the SEC women's basketball tournament March 8, 2026 at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
After UT controlled Sunday's opening tip, Carlton drove to the basket and dumped the ball off to Breya Cunningham for the title game's first points. Seconds later, Carlton drew a charge and Texas quickly turned that turnover into more points.
Carlton then started scoring, making six of the seven shots she attempted in the opening quarter and also snagging three rebounds and distributing three assists in the frame. Texas was up 27-13 at the end of the first and its lead never dipped below nine points for the rest of the game.
"Justice was a real difference early and kind of got us going," Schaefer noted.
A strong start from Carlton is not new, however. At least for the last month or so. On Feb. 26, Carlton nearly outscored No. 23 Georgia by herself in the first quarter; she had 10 points to the Bulldogs' 11 while shooting 5-for-5 from the field. And 12 of the team-high 17 points that she collected Feb. 9 against No. 18 Kentucky were first-quarter points. As Texas built a 19-10 lead in the first quarter of its Feb, 1 game against No. 10 Oklahoma, Carlton scored nine points.
Texas forward Justice Carlton drives to the basket between South Carolina guard Ta'niya Latson and center Madina Okot during the first half of the Southeastern Conference tournament title game March 8, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (Chris Carlson/Associated Press)
"I do really enjoy that punch-first mentality," Carlton said. "I love SEC basketball. I love the physicality. I love everything about this, and it's just really exciting to be a part of it."
MORE: Subscribe to the Statesman's Texas sports newsletter
Carlton's championship game contributions came less than a day after she sat out much of the second half of the semifinals win over Ole Miss after Schaefer opted to play the matchup game at her position with Ashton Judd. Carlton played just four minutes after halftime Saturday, but said she didn't enter Sunday's South Carolina game with anything to prove. "A win for my team is a win for me," she remarked.
Harmon could also tell that Carlton was focused on the task at hand. She was Carlton's roommate during this trip to Greenville, and Texas' fifth-year point guard said she didn't even need to tell the 6-foot-1 Carlson that the Longhorns needed her to "do what you do."
"I didn't even have to say it, and she was like, 'I got you,'" Harmon said. "I'm just glad that we can get that out of her. I could tell on the look on her face. She's not a huge communicator. When she starts talking and hyping people up, that's when you know she's really locked in. So I could see that in her in the first minute of the game, really."
Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) shoots the ball during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
This was the second straight year that Texas faced South Carolina in the SEC championship game. In last season's 64-45 loss to the Gamecocks, Carlton played just six minutes. Over UT's final four games in the NCAA Tournament, she appeared for a total of three minutes.
That time on the bench capped an up-and-down season in which Carlton produced the team's only 30-point game, was twice honored by the SEC and started in a top-five showdown with LSU. But Carlton's playing time waned as the season went on, and she admitted during the NCAA Tournament that she was struggling with her reserve role.
During the offseason, Texas lost four players to the transfer portal. Carlton, however, stayed.
"I think I'm an SEC player, and I really wanted to be a part of it," Carlton said. "I wanted to give myself another chance and really stick with it. I think (transferring) was kind of an easy out for me, a little bit. May have to go somewhere else and sit and learn a whole other system again. I just think I had gotten my roots done here, and kind of figured it out. I just wanted to give myself another chance."
MORE:Meet the men who are getting the Longhorns ready for a title run
Schaefer has often described Carlton as one of, if not the, most physical high school players he has ever recruited. But Schaefer felt Carlton's "first year was going to be probably a little bit rocky" as she adjusted to playing against older players while also being just one year removed from a serious knee injury.
This year, Carlton is averaging 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds. Her improvement combined with the arrivals of Judd and fellow senior transfer Teya Sidberry has given Texas (31-3) a reliable presence at the "four" position.
"So I'm happy for Justice," Schaefer said. "I can promise you, there's nobody on this planet more happy than coach Schaefer to see Justice Carlton having success."
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The sophomore's name was inspired by a fictional character played by Janet Jackson in a 1993 movie.
Her mother, Kacy, still ranks among the all-time leaders in blocks at Baylor.
In recent months, Carlton even started her own cookie company.
You must be registered for see images attach
Texas forward Justice Carlton steals the ball away from South Carolina guard Raven Johnson during the first half of the Southeastern Conference tournament title game March 8, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (Chris Carlson/Associated Press)
On the court, Carlton was a top-rated recruit and a McDonald's All-American in the 2024 class. Last year she earned SEC freshman of the week honors twice and she's responsible for one of just six 30-point performances by a Longhorn during Vic Schaefer's six seasons as Texas' coach.
And now, Carlton is an all-tournament honoree in the SEC.
MORE:What Vic Schaefer's jacket told us about Texas basketball's SEC Tournament performance
Carlton scored 13 of her 15 points in the first quarter of Sunday's 78-61 win over South Carolina in the SEC Tournament championship game. That effort at Bon Secours Wellness Arena earmed Carlton honors alongside UT teammates Madison Booker and Rori Harmon on the SEC's all-tournament team. Booker was MVP of the team, which also included South Carolina's Joyce Edwards and Raven Johnson, LSU's MiLaysia Fulwiley and Ole Miss star Cotie McMahon.
"I did start to feel myself after a certain point (in the South Carolina game)," Carlton said. "But, yeah, I really just tried to provide for my teammates and do whatever they need me to do."
You must be registered for see images attach
Texas forward Justice Carlton reacts in the first half against South Carolina during the championship game of the SEC women's basketball tournament March 8, 2026 at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Carlton helps Texas 'punch first' in game against Gamecocks
After UT controlled Sunday's opening tip, Carlton drove to the basket and dumped the ball off to Breya Cunningham for the title game's first points. Seconds later, Carlton drew a charge and Texas quickly turned that turnover into more points.
Carlton then started scoring, making six of the seven shots she attempted in the opening quarter and also snagging three rebounds and distributing three assists in the frame. Texas was up 27-13 at the end of the first and its lead never dipped below nine points for the rest of the game.
"Justice was a real difference early and kind of got us going," Schaefer noted.
A strong start from Carlton is not new, however. At least for the last month or so. On Feb. 26, Carlton nearly outscored No. 23 Georgia by herself in the first quarter; she had 10 points to the Bulldogs' 11 while shooting 5-for-5 from the field. And 12 of the team-high 17 points that she collected Feb. 9 against No. 18 Kentucky were first-quarter points. As Texas built a 19-10 lead in the first quarter of its Feb, 1 game against No. 10 Oklahoma, Carlton scored nine points.
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Texas forward Justice Carlton drives to the basket between South Carolina guard Ta'niya Latson and center Madina Okot during the first half of the Southeastern Conference tournament title game March 8, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (Chris Carlson/Associated Press)
"I do really enjoy that punch-first mentality," Carlton said. "I love SEC basketball. I love the physicality. I love everything about this, and it's just really exciting to be a part of it."
MORE: Subscribe to the Statesman's Texas sports newsletter
Carlton's championship game contributions came less than a day after she sat out much of the second half of the semifinals win over Ole Miss after Schaefer opted to play the matchup game at her position with Ashton Judd. Carlton played just four minutes after halftime Saturday, but said she didn't enter Sunday's South Carolina game with anything to prove. "A win for my team is a win for me," she remarked.
Harmon could also tell that Carlton was focused on the task at hand. She was Carlton's roommate during this trip to Greenville, and Texas' fifth-year point guard said she didn't even need to tell the 6-foot-1 Carlson that the Longhorns needed her to "do what you do."
"I didn't even have to say it, and she was like, 'I got you,'" Harmon said. "I'm just glad that we can get that out of her. I could tell on the look on her face. She's not a huge communicator. When she starts talking and hyping people up, that's when you know she's really locked in. So I could see that in her in the first minute of the game, really."
You must be registered for see images attach
Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) shoots the ball during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Justice Carlton shows improvement after giving herself a second chance
This was the second straight year that Texas faced South Carolina in the SEC championship game. In last season's 64-45 loss to the Gamecocks, Carlton played just six minutes. Over UT's final four games in the NCAA Tournament, she appeared for a total of three minutes.
That time on the bench capped an up-and-down season in which Carlton produced the team's only 30-point game, was twice honored by the SEC and started in a top-five showdown with LSU. But Carlton's playing time waned as the season went on, and she admitted during the NCAA Tournament that she was struggling with her reserve role.
During the offseason, Texas lost four players to the transfer portal. Carlton, however, stayed.
"I think I'm an SEC player, and I really wanted to be a part of it," Carlton said. "I wanted to give myself another chance and really stick with it. I think (transferring) was kind of an easy out for me, a little bit. May have to go somewhere else and sit and learn a whole other system again. I just think I had gotten my roots done here, and kind of figured it out. I just wanted to give myself another chance."
MORE:Meet the men who are getting the Longhorns ready for a title run
Schaefer has often described Carlton as one of, if not the, most physical high school players he has ever recruited. But Schaefer felt Carlton's "first year was going to be probably a little bit rocky" as she adjusted to playing against older players while also being just one year removed from a serious knee injury.
This year, Carlton is averaging 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds. Her improvement combined with the arrivals of Judd and fellow senior transfer Teya Sidberry has given Texas (31-3) a reliable presence at the "four" position.
"So I'm happy for Justice," Schaefer said. "I can promise you, there's nobody on this planet more happy than coach Schaefer to see Justice Carlton having success."
Continue reading...
