Texas Tech Basketball Looks To Capitalize On Elite 8 Run

After reaching the Elite 8 for the first time in program history, the Texas Tech basketball program is hitting the recruiting trail trying to capitalize on this season’s success.

The next few seasons are shaping up to be some of the most interesting Texas Tech basketball seasons in recent memory.  That is because Chris Beard and his staff are working hard to ensure they will also be successful seasons.

Having to replace five seniors (Keenan Evans, Justin Gray, Zach Smith, Niem Stevenson and Tommy Hamilton) next year, there is no time for the Red Raiders to rest on their laurels after a historic season in 2017-18.  So despite the fact that this season came to an end less than a week ago, the coaching staff is still hard at work.

With only time to do a load of laundry and grab some fresh clothes, Beard and his staff have been back out on the recruiting trail trying to bring in reinforcements.  In fact, some members of the staff hit the road immediately after the loss to Villanova, not even returning to Lubbock with the team.

One of the most important targets is big man graduate transfer Tariq Owens who played last season at St. Johns.  Owens is looking for a new opportunity and Texas Tech is squarely in the mix.

The 6-foot-11 native of Maryland would fill the void left by the graduation of Hamilton and Zach Smith.  He is an athletic rim-protector averaging a shade under 3 blocks per game in 30 minutes per game this season.  Additionally, he pulled down 5.9 rebounds and added 8.4 points per contest.  But it is his shot-blocking that makes him such a huge target and that is something Texas Tech must replace with Zach Smith moving on.

Tech currently has no post players signed for current recruiting class so Norense Odiase and Malik Ondigo are the only big men in the fold.  If the Red Raiders are unable to land Owens, the search for an experienced big man will continue in the JUCO ranks or the graduate transfer market.

Another prospect receiving quite a bit of attention from Texas Tech is 4-star shooting guard Kevin McCullar of San Antonio.  The No. 19 shooting guard in America hosted Chris Beard and assistant coach Chris Ogden in his home Wednesday.

The 2019 prospect scored 16.8 points, grabbed 6.6 rebounds and dished out 3.8 assists per game as a junior this past season. He is also considering offers from Houston, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Kansas State.

Should Tech land this talented scorer, he would be a replacement for a player like Brandone Francis, who will graduate after next season.  At 6-foot-6, McCullar is a perfect fit for what Chris Beard wants in his guards as he is long, athletic and versatile.

Speaking of athletic and versatile forwards to keep an eye on,  Frankie Policelli from Long Island, New York is a name frequently associated with Texas Tech.  The 6-foot-8 2018 prospect has over 20 offers including Texas Tech, Cincinnati, Illinois, Maryland, UMASS, Washington, UCONN and Syracuse.  He is a three-star recruit and the No. 7 overall prospect in New York.

The lefty is capable of handling the ball, a key factor for Texas Tech forwards, and at just 17 years old, he could grow into a highly skilled big man at the next level.  He already has an excellent jump shot and is a consistent three-point shooter, something the Red Raiders need to add.  Tech is hoping to bring him in for an official visit in the upcoming weeks.

What is interesting to note is that all three of these prospects are the caliber of players that Texas Tech would not have had a shot with prior to Chris Beard’s arrival.  Beard’s magnetisim and Texas Tech’s success is beginning to open doors for the program that had been locked for so long.

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It is exciting to think about what Beard might be able to do with top-end recruits to work with.  If Texas Tech continues to develop its national profile, we may get to find out sooner rather than later.