2022-23 Texas Longhorns Basketball Position Preview - Forwards

After Inside Texas’ look at the guards, let’s jump right into the same for the forwards.

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Timmy Allen – Super SR.

2021-22 stats: 12.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 49.3% FG, 26.7% 3PT, 73.1% FT

Size: 6-foot-6, 210 pounds

The leading scorer and rebounder from the 2021-22 Longhorns is back for his super senior year. Allen did just about everything for the Longhorns last year. Some of the best offense Texas put together last year involved Allen initiating offense. It was something he did not only in transition, but also in conventional offense.

Beard won’t likely task Allen with running point again with Marcus Carr, Tyrese Hunter, and Sir’Jabari Rice on the roster, but it could serve as a good wrinkle for a handful of possessions.

Allen will make hay continuing to be one of the best under-the-rim and inside-the-arc players in college basketball. His touch inside the line, mid-range shooting ability, and strong vision with and without the ball will prove invaluable to the 2022-23 Horns.

There’s a desire to see Allen take (and make) more three-point shots. Anything he can offer from beyond 22 feet 1.75 inches is a bonus. Texas has to make sure it doesn’t serve as a detriment.

Dylan Disu – SR.

2021-22 stats: 3.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.4 apg, 46.6% FG, 13.3% 3PT, 81.3% FT

Size: 6-foot-9, 225 pounds

Healthy Dylan Disu has finally arrived on the Forty Acres. As a result of a knee injury suffered at Vanderbilt, Disu was limited last year in his appearances. He played 20+ minutes just three times and never recorded more than 15 minutes after January 15. That changes this year. Disu will play starters minutes for the Longhorns, and will bear much of the rim protecting responsibility. That’ll be a by committee thing, but Disu will chair that board. In a similar way, Beard will look to Disu to crash the boards and replicate his rebounding prowess he showed for the Commodores. Disu transferred to Texas coming off a season in which he led the SEC in rebounding.

Disu won’t be given a heavy offensive workload, but he’ll have his opportunities and needs to convert on second-chance opportunities. As long as he can man the boards and convert on his opportunities, Disu’s homecoming will prove to be a positive.

Alex Anamekwe – FR.

Size: 6-foot-5.5, 200 pounds

Anamekwe has impressed in his limited time on campus, but he still figures to play minimal minutes this season. His quickness off the floor, and willingness to be physical on the defensive end has impressed early on.

Dillon Mitchell – FR.

Size: 6-foot-8, 205 pounds

Arterio Morris was the jewel of the class as far as guards go. Mitchell serves the same role for the forwards. Mitchell not only comes from one of the top prep programs in the country in Montverde Academy, he arrives with an elite pairing of skills, and athleticism that harkens back to Greg Brown.

Don’t confuse Mitchell for a carbon copy of Brown. GB3 had athleticism likely only matched by Jaxon Hayes. But Mitchell of course has incredible athleticism, and unquestionably a more refined game than Brown at similar stages of their career. Mitchell is arguably the best player without the ball in the program already.

Mitchell has likely cemented himself as a starter. He isn’t likely to be a massive scoring threat off the dribble, but he’ll be able to do a lot of veteran things in his first (and maybe only) year in Austin. He has been a top two rebounder throughout practices, is a weak side shot blocker and finishes well above the rim.

Brock Cunningham – R-SR.

2021-22 stats: 2.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.6 apg, 48.2% FG, 47.8% 3PT, 81.3% FT

Size: 6-foot-6, 210 pounds

Beard calls Cunningham a Big 12 legend. That’s lofty praise, maybe too lofty, but Cunningham is a glue guy in every sense of the definition. He hustles, he rebounds, he defends, and even hits the three at a good clip.

Cunningham will never be a player Texas looks to for its scoring, but that’s okay. After a redshirt year in his first season, Cunningham has blossomed into an experienced college basketball player. It took plenty of work under both Beard and Shaka Smart, but Cunningham made it happen.

He’ll likely draw difficult defensive matchups in sixth (or seventh) man minutes, and be asked to hit the corner three every now and then. Cunningham also is incredibly important off the court for the program. He’s never been tasked with the responsibility he’ll have this season, but by all accounts the Austin native is more than ready for it.

Christian Bishop – Super SR.

2021-22 stats: 7.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.7 apg, 60% FG, 33.3% 3PT, 67.5% FT

Size: 6-foot-7, 220 pounds

Bishop evolved from an athletic rebounding role player into a decent scoring threat for the Longhorns after Tre Mitchell left the program. Bishop will be asked to defend the rim plenty when Disu is off the floor and Texas elects to go small. That’s something he’s fine at, and it should work out well considering it won’t be his primary defensive responsibility as it was last season.

Improved free throw shooting will be critical for Bishop, as will staying on the floor. The Creighton transfer fouled out twice last year, and accumulated four fouls on five different occasions. Ability to play the same way as last season but for longer stretches is the biggest task for Bishop this year.

Look for Bishop to be a benefactor of Tyrese Hunter and Sir’Jabari Rice’s ability to create more scramble defensive rotations this season.