Chris Beard built Texas Longhorns basketball into a contender in the portal

On3 imageby:Gerry Hamilton•07/17/21•

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It took Chris Beard all of three and half months to build the Texas Longhorns into a contender.

While the return of guards Andrew Jones and Courtney Ramey was key, Beard’s work in the transfer portal has been otherworldly. 

Beard’s first team in Austin includes seven players that averaged double figures in scoring in 2020-21. 

Five players on the Texas Longhorns’ roster were named all-conference a season ago. Timmy Allen and Tre Mitchell were first-team in the Pac-12 and Atlantic 10. Andrew Jones was second team in the Big 12. Marcus Carr and Courtney Ramey were third team in the Big 10 and Big 12. 

The Texas Longhorns roster will also be one of the most experienced in college basketball. The 13 man roster has a combined 797 college games played, including 547 starts. 

Devin Askew, CG, 6-foot-3

  • Announced his transfer to Texas April 14. 
  • Former four-star recruit.
  • Started 20 games last season for Kentucky.
  • Averaged 6.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 2020-21.

Timmy Allen, F, 6-foot-6

  • Announced the decision to transfer to Texas April 14. 
  • All-Pac 12 first-team selection last season at Utah
  • Averaged 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 2020-21.

Christian Bishop, PF, 6-foot-8

  • Announced his transfer to Texas April 16. 
  • Converted 68.1% from the field at Creighton last season.
  • Averaged 11.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 2020-21.

Dylan Disu, PF, 6-foot-9

  • The former Austin area standout announced his transfer to Texas April 26. 
  • Led the SEC in rebounding at Vanderbilt last season.
  • Averaged 15.0 points and 9.2 rebounds in 2020-21. 

Tre Mitchell, PF, 6-foot-9

  • Announced the decision to transfer to Texas over Florida State June 15.
  • Atlantic 10 first-team at Massachusetts last season.
  • Averaged 18.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 blocks in 2020-21.

Marcus Carr, PG, 6-foot-2

  • Carr announced he would play his final college season at Texas July 17
  • All-Big 10 third team last season at Minnesota.
  • Averaged 19.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 2020-21.

The Longhorns also have a talented true freshman entering the program. Four-star small forward Jaylon Tyson originally signed with Texas Tech before announcing he would attend Texas to play for Chris Beard. Tyson made more than 200 three-pointers his last two seasons in high school.