Texas Tech basketball: Who should be first inductees in Ring of Honor?

Andre Emmett: 2000-2004

The leading scorer in Texas Tech basketball history, Andre Emmett has an argument as the best player in Red Raider history.  His 2,256 career points were a Big 12 record at the time of his graduation.

A four-year starter, the Dallas native averaged 17.6 p.p.g. and averaged over 20 p.p.g. in both his junior and senior seasons.  He was a three-time All-Big 12 selection and a consensus All-American in 2004.

That year, he led the Red Raiders to the Sweet 16 while averaging 20.6 p.p.g.  And that spring, he won the NCAA Slam Dunk Contest which he punctuated by dunking over a large group of children.

Playing for legendary coach Bob Knight, Emmett was the face of Texas Tech basketball’s resurrection.  When Knight arrived and Emmett emerged as a star in his sophomore campaign, the Red Raiders ended a streak of four-consecutive losing seasons.

Tech would reach the NCAA Tournament in Emmett’s last three seasons as he keyed the program’s turnaround.  Tech went 68-34 in Emmett’s three seasons playing for Knight ushering in the modern era of Red Raider basketball.

Tech has never seen a better finisher in the paint and a more electric scorer than Andre Emmett.  It would be hard to envision a ring of honor without “Dre” in it.