The current portal picture for Texas
As soon as Texas’ season ended at the hands of the Tennessee Volunteers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, a new season began for Rodney Terry and staff: portal season.
[Sign up for Inside Texas and get ONE MONTH for $1 using our March Madness special!]
Portal recruiting has nearly taken precedence over high school recruiting in high-level college basketball. While top-end high school prospects can make impacts, the value of bringing in experienced players with multiple seasons of college basketball under their belt can prove invaluable. Look no further than the 2022-23 Texas Longhorns.
For the 2023-24 season, Terry brought in two high school signees in Chris Johnson and Devon Pryor after the professional ranks pilfered the already-signed class. Neither made much of an impact due to what Terry added via the portal.
In addition to returners Dylan Disu, Tyrese Hunter, Dillon Mitchell, Brock Cunningham, Terry brought in Max Abmas, Kadin Shedrick, Ithiel Horton, Chendall Weaver, and Ze’Rik Onyema from the portal.
Abmas and Weaver turned out to be hits. Abmas was a steady scorer for the Longhorns and moved up the NCAA record books in his fifth season. Weaver brought energy whenever he was on the floor and showcased unique athleticism.
The jury is still out on Shedrick, who told reporters in Charlotte following Texas’ elimination he would return to Texas for his sixth season of eligibility. Shedrick faced injury problems throughout the early part of the season and started looking more and more like a Power Conference player as the year progressed.
Horton is out of eligibility, and Onyema looks to be a UTEP caliber player at this juncture.
Shedrick is back. Weaver likely is, too. As of publication time, no player has entered the portal save for deep backup Alex Anamekwe but there are rumblings Mitchell could move on from the Longhorns.
The needs for next year will change, but Texas’ current portal targets could reveal what Terry is trying to add to the roster.
So far, Texas has made contact with bigs and point guards, but other needs could come to play based off portal movement, star players becoming available as the window carries on, and more and more eliminations of high major teams in the NCAA Tournament.
The portal window runs until May 1.
Known contact in the transfer portal
Xavier Amos, F, Northern Illinois
“They like my versatility and think I fit in with how they like for their forwards to move and do different things,” Amos told On3. “With them, it is a lot about development. They see a high upside with me, they would put the ball in my hands and go make plays.”
Zeke Mayo, G, South Dakota State
Kansas may be tough to fend off for the Lawrence, Kan. native.
Malik Dia, G, Belmont
Amari Williams, F, Drexel
Jhamir Brickus, G, LaSalle
On3’s top available players in the portal
Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford
Clifford Omoruyi, C, Rutgers
Kanaan Carlyle, G, Stanford
AJ Storr, G, Wisconsin
Kobe Johnson, SF, USC
Brandon Garrison, C, Oklahoma State
Amari Williams, C, Drexel
Malik Mack, PG, Harvard
Dug McDaniel, G, Michigan
Jevon Porter, F, Pepperdine
JP Pegues, G, Furman
Mikeal Brown-Jones, F, UNC Greensboro
Andrej Stojakovic, G, Stanford
Sam Alexis, F, Chattanooga
Tarris Reed, C, Michigan
Otega Oweh, G, Oklahoma
Malik Dia, F, Belmont
