With several transfer portal signees already made official out of Lubbock, TX, making a splash in the Big 12 this offseason has been head coach Mark Adams and Texas Tech with four transfer additions thus far, taking some of the portal’s biggest names off the market all while staying in the mix for multiple other prospects. As one of these four new pieces still remains in NBA Draft contention, Texas Tech is heading into next season with a young roster but if they can earn a full commitment from Utah Valley transfer Fardaws Aimaq and add a few more players this offseason expect the Red Raiders to be in the Big 12 title conversation.
Texas Tech Transfer Additions:
De’Vion Harmon, Oregon
10.8 PPG / 2.6 RPG / 2.1 APG
D’maurian Williams, Gardner-Webb
14.5 PPG / 4.6 RPG / 2.5 APG
Fardaws Aimaq, Utah Valley
18.9 PPG / 13.6 RPG / 1.7 APG
Jaylon Tyson, Texas
1.8 PPG / 1.1 RPG / .4 APG
After earning commitments from two former top-100 prospects, a 2021-22 All-Big South selection, and a two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Year, Texas Tech will only return one starter from a season ago in 6-foot-8 forward Kevin Obanor while losing multiple players to the portal including Kevin McCullar and Terrence Shannon, as well as leading scorer Bryson Williams to the NBA Draft.
Lacking wing and forward depth, Texas Tech is reportedly in talks with some of the top names still left in the transfer portal such as Boise State standout Emmanuel Akot who averaged 10.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 2.8 APG last season, or Matthew Mayer who started every game for Baylor in 2021-22 while averaging 9.8 PPG and 5 RPG as a defensive stalwart.
In spite of whatever further transfers coach Adams adds, Texas Tech also has a very exciting recruiting class coming in that can definitely add to the program in the near future between guys like four-star shooting guard Jason Jackson, four-star point guard Richard Isaacs, and four-star shooting guard Lamar Washington.
With all that in mind and some fluid pieces still on the board, what could a potential starting lineup look like for Texas Tech next season based on this current roster? I think ideally Coach Adams would bring in another guard piece and somebody to build that forward/wing depth but here’s how things look right now.
TRP’s Projected Lineup for Texas Tech:
De’Vion Harmon, G
D’maurian Williams, G
Jaylon Tyson, F
Kevin Obanor, F
Fardaws Aimaq, C
