Texas Tech basketball: Davide Moretti confirms he will return for junior season

Thursday, Texas Tech basketball fans got good news when sophomore guard Davide Moretti said that he intends to return to school for his junior season rather than pursue opportunities to play professionally in Europe.

On the eve of the Texas Tech basketball team’s first game in this year’s NCAA Tournament, Red Raider fans got some good news concerning next year’s team.  That is because sophomore guard Davide Moretti, a third-team All-Big 12 selection this year, confirmed that he will return to Lubbock next season rather than play professionally in Europe.

Speaking to Davide Chinellato, editor for La Gazzetta dello Sport an Italian sports publication, Moretti said that he is “pretty sure” that he will return for “at least another year”.   That certainly is reassuring for Texas Tech fans who are bracing for the loss of five key players from this year’s team including seniors Matt Mooney, Tariq Owens, Norense Odiase and Brandone Francis as well as sophomore and leading scorer Jarrett Culver, who is expected to be a top-10 draft pick this summer.

In all, Tech stands to lose 48.4 points, 22.8 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game this offseason.  Plus, with no juniors on the current roster, Moretti will be one of the most experienced players on the team next year.  And even if Tech adds a graduate transfer or two this summer as expected, Moretti will be the team’s most grizzled Big 12 veteran.

In a breakout second season, Moretti has become one of the most underrated players in the Big 12.  He is second on the team in scoring at 11.6 points per game, third in assists at 2.5 and he leads the team in 3-point shooting at 47.8%.  That is an increase of 8.1 points and 1.4 assists from last year.  Additionally, he has drained 38 more 3-pointers this year as his 3-point percentage has risen 16.1%.  Among Big 12 players, the Italian native was tops in 3-point percent and free throw percentage (93.3) while finishing tied for seventh in three-pointers made.

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Last summer, Moretti played for team Italy in the FIBA Under-20 European Championships where he opened plenty of eyes.  Averaging 12.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2 assists per game in the event, he not only showed that he was ready for a breakout sophomore campaign, he garnered attention from numerous European professional leagues.

But now it looks like he will return to lead a Texas Tech team that will feature as many as six newcomers next year.  Next season will be built largely around the top signing class in program history which features five high school prospects.

The headliner is shooting guard Jahmius Ramsey, the No. 30 player in the nation and highest-ranked recruit to ever sign with the Red Raiders.  Additionally, 4-star wing Terrence Shannon from Chicago, the No. 84 player in the nation, will also be counted on to provide some offensive firepower next season.

And that group will benefit tremendously from having Davide Moretti leading the way.  In just two years at Texas Tech, he has transformed himself from a timid freshman who looked overmatched by the physicality of the Big 12 into one of the best players in the conference.  And if the Red Raiders hope to maintain their place as one of the top up-and-coming programs in the nation, Moretti will likely have to be even better next season.