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Texas Tech basketball: Grad transfers that could land in Lubbock

By Matthew Conner

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: TJ Holyfield #22 of the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks shoots against Zach Smith #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first half in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: TJ Holyfield #22 of the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks shoots against Zach Smith #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first half in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The Texas Tech basketball team will almost certainly be active in the graduate transfer market again this summer and these impact players have already been linked to the Red Raiders.

After its improbable run to the NCAA Tournament’s final night, the Texas Tech basketball team has drawn more attention than ever before.  And in one key way, Chris Beard’s program has had a profound impact on the future of college hoops.

After seeing the success that Tech had this season with graduate transfers Matt Mooney and Tariq Owens, virtually every program in the nation is now entertaining the idea of dabbling in the grad transfer market.  Once considered a shortcut that lesser programs would have to use to help close the talent gap between themselves and blue-blue programs that boast rosters full of All-Americans, the grad transfer game is now viewed as a vital means of putting together a roster.

And even the top programs in the nation are looking to bring in one-year transfers to help give their teams the type of veteran leadership and toughness that the Red Raiders displayed this season.  Blue-blood coaches no longer look down on the idea of bringing in a one-and-done senior because they are realizing that their youth-laden rosters lack some of the intangibles that are essential when pursuing a title.

But that means the Red Raiders are no longer ahead of the curve when it comes to landing top graduate transfers in the nation.  The competition for the best seniors in the transfer portal is stronger than ever but fortunately, the talent pool is also deeper than ever.

The Red Raiders are in an odd situation with their roster because right now, there are no seniors on the team and only three juniors; Davide Moretti, Deshawn Corprew and Malik Ondigo.  Beard has made it known that he values what seniors bring to the court and the locker room so there is no doubt he will bring in at least one (but likely two) grad transfers this year.  Here are the top transfers that have been linked to the Red Raiders in recent weeks.

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