Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech Basketball: 3-Star Forward Daniel Mading Commits

By Matthew Conner

Feb 13, 2017; Lubbock, TX, USA; Players are introduced before the game between the Baylor Bears and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 84-78. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2017; Lubbock, TX, USA; Players are introduced before the game between the Baylor Bears and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 84-78. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

On Tuesday, the Texas Tech basketball program received a huge verbal commitment from 3-star forward Daniel Mading.

Just one day after the Texas Tech basketball team beat No. 4 Baylor , it received more good news Tuesday afternoon.  Gainesville, Florida high school forward Daniel Mading gave a verbal pledge to the Red Raiders following his official visit this past weekend.

The 6-foot-9 forward is listed as a 3-star recruit by 247sports.com. As a big-time prospect, Mading received significant interest from many of the top programs in the nation.

He selected Texas Tech over offers from Providence, Arizona State, UMass, TCU, Pitt and Memphis.  Other schools to show interest in Mading include Arizona, Ohio State, Kansas, Florida, Maryland, and Connecticut.

This addition helps make the Texas Tech 2017 signing class much more well-rounded.  Previously, the Red Raiders had only received verbal commitments from four guards.

Three of those guards, Hyron Edwards, Jordan Brangers and Joshua Webster are junior college players.  Thus, it was critical for Texas Tech to add another high school player to the roster.

This season, the program will lose big men Anthony Livingston and Matthew Temple.  Next season will be the final year for Zach Smith creating a need at the forward position.

Daniel Mading’s well-rounded game could make him a match-up nightmare for opposing defenses.  He possess above-average touch on his jump shot and his comfortable handling the basketball.

Unlike many high school big men, there appears to be no part of the game in which Mading is deficient.  He is the type of player often referred to as a “stretch-4”.  This new type of power forward, which can stretch the defense with his jump shot and ability to handle the ball, has become popular in the NBA and Mading has the look of a potential pro prospect.

Originally from Sudan, Mading came to America from Australia to pursue his basketball career.  He bounced between Florida and New Jersey during his high school days as his age limited his prep school eligibility in some states.

In December of 2015, Mading gave his verbal commitment to Arizona State and its head coach Bobby Hurley.  Hurley’s father Bob coached Mading for a year at St. Anthony High School in New Jersey.

But Mading and Arizona State parted ways in June allowing Texas Tech to enter the picture.

Next: Appreciate the Integrity of Kingsbury

This is a huge pickup for Chris Beard and his staff.  With the core of the current team (Justin Gray, Keenan Evans and Smith) graduating next year, Mading will be counted on to usher in the next era of Red Raider basketball.

Home/Texas Tech Basketball