Texas Tech basketball: Grad transfers that could land in Lubbock
T.J. Holyfield – Forward; Stephen F. Austin
Another grad transfer who has already visited Lubbock this spring is Stephen F. Austin forward T.J. Holyfield. The 6-foot-8, 227-pound forward averaged 12.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in 2017-18 before sitting out this season with a shoulder injury.
If his name is familiar, it might be because he was a member of the SFA team that lost to the Red Raiders in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. In that game, the product of Albuquerque, N.M. put up 10 points and four rebounds before fouling out late in the 70-60 Red Raider win. And Holyfield has had big games against Power 5 teams. Two seasons ago, he had 19 points against Mississippi State and 18 against Missouri.
It is easy to see how he would fit on the Red Raider roster next season. After losing both Norense Odiase and Tariq Owens, Tech will be looking for answers in the post.
Unfortunately, the options already on campus are not inspiring. Malik Ondigo is a 6-foot-10 former 3-star recruit who has failed to crack the regular rotation in his two seasons with the program. But at just 5.9 minutes per game in 18 appearances, he is the most experienced big man on the roster.
Freshman Josh Mballa saw action in just 17 games and looked lost when he did. The native of France remains a long-term project at best and seems far from being ready to contribute next season. Tech has signed 7-foot-1 high school center Russell Tchewa, a 3-star prospect, but he figures to be a role player at best in his first season on campus.
Holyfield could fill the role left vacant by Norense Odiase. Like for former Red Raider big man, he is a relentless rebounder but he Holyfield has a far more polished offensive game. He could also be a leader off the court as well, which is where Odiase made his biggest contributions to the program.
Holyfield has also visited Kansas and was reportedly set to visit Illinois this week. Keep in mind that current Illini head coach Brad Underwood was the head coach that recruited Holyfield to SFA which could give him a leg up in this battle. But one must wonder if Holyfield will want to spend his last collegiate season with a program that went just 12-21 last season instead of one that played for a national title.