The Texas Tech Basketball Roster Overhaul Is Nearly Complete
Shortly after April 1st, I wrote about how Texas Tech's basketball roster was a cluster and that there could be no turnover or massive turnover with no in-between. My thought was that there could potentially be eight available scholarships (out of 13) up for grabs due to players transferring away.
At the time there were three players staying for sure: Kyler Edwards, Avery Benson, and Kevin McCullar. Today, only McCullar remains on the roster, while the other two have gone south to various places in Texas. Joining McCullar as returnees are Clarence Nadolny, Chibuzo Agbo and super senior Marcus Santos-Silva.
With those four to build around, new head coach Mark Adams and the family have signed nine players to join the program. One, Chandler Jacobs, has already entered and left the building, so 12 players are on the books for Texas Tech heading into the 2021-22 season. I'll run the new guys down quickly.
The only true freshman will be Ethan Duncan, who will join the Red Raiders after a high school career at Trinity Christian here in Lubbock. Next is transfer and second-year freshman Daniel Batcho, who comes from Arizona. The sophomores will include JUCO transfer KJ Allen, UL transfer Mylik Wilson and returner Chibuzo Agbo. There are two returning juniors in Kevin McCullar and Clarence Nadolny, and one transfer in Sardaar Calhoun, who most recently played at Florida State.
That brings us to the largest group on the team -- the seniors. Led by returning super senior Marcus Santos-Silva and joined by Winthrop transfer Adonis Arms, former Hampton star Davion Warren and the newest Red Raider Bryson Williams of UTEP.
You can get a snapshot of the roster via Ryan Mainville below:
The Williams commitment does several things for Coach Adams. First off, it fills a serious hole on the roster. Santos-Silva is good, but can't play for 40 minutes. Bryson Williams can come in immediately and provide quality impact to the game in similar ways to Santos Silva. Williams also can score enough to potentially play with Santos-Silva on the floor together, which is something Texas Tech couldn't do with any other forward last season.
Secondly, this is a direct recruiting victory over the Texas Longhorns, which is impressive in any offseason, but rings much more vibrant in this offseason in particular. Not only did former Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard flip to Texas because he thought he could recruit better there, Rodney Terry was hired as a recruiting specialist assistant coach from UTEP. Bryson Williams also played at UTEP for three seasons after transferring from Fresno State. Who coached Williams at Fresno State? Rodney Terry.
Williams has already been a college basketball player for five seasons. This will be his first one without coach Terry at the helm of his ship. Williams must have some serious faith in Mark Adams' vision.
Finally, Williams' commitment puts Texas Tech at 12 bodies. In a normal season, NCAA basketball teams are allowed 13 scholarship players. This will still not be a normal season. Marcus Santos-Silva will essentially have a "free" scholarship because some of the COVID-19-related guidelines on seniors gaining an extra year of eligibility.
That means there are two scholarships remaining, and personally I'd like to see TCU's Kevin Samuel transfer in and everyone's favorite tomahawk slam artist Terrence Shannon Jr. walk back into the door out of the NBA draft lobby.
That's just me.