Texas Tech basketball: Malik Ondigo enters transfer portal; could return

Friday, sophomore forward Malik Ondigo announced his intention to put his name in the transfer portal but left open the possibility of returning to the Texas Tech basketball program.

The college basketball transfer portal has become the most popular fraternity in the nation. And Friday, another member of the Texas Tech basketball program joined the ever-growing club of players looking to explore their options as sophomore forward Malik Ondigo announced that he is putting his name in the NCAA transfer protocol. He is the second Red Raider this spring to enter the transfer portal after freshman Khavon Moore left the program in April.

In a Twitter message, Ondigo, a 6-foot-10 native of Arizona announced that he was entering the portal but left open the possibility of a return to the Red Raiders. After thanking the university, his coaches and his teammates, he professed his love for Lubbock but said that he was “exploring all of [his] options…including a return to Texas Tech.”

The last part of that statement creates some ambiguity concerning Ondigo’s situation. And it is fair to wonder if his status with the program could hinge on whether or not Chris Beard is able to land an impact big man this offseason.

https://twitter.com/Malik6ft10/status/1126911173239214081

With the loss of Tariq Owens and Norense Odiase, Tech has a need for an experienced forward or center who would presumably be thrust into a starting role. Currently, Tech has only two post players on the roster, Ondigo and 6-foot-8 freshman Josh Mballa (who appeared in only 17 games this year).

Beard has signed 7-foot center Russell Tchewa from Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut, the same prepatory school where Ondigo completed his high school career. But as just a 3-star prospect, it might be ambitious to expect the 255-pounder to fill the shoes of either Owens or Odiase in his first season on campus.

That’s why the Red Raiders have been linked to a number of forwards in the grad transfer portal. The two most prominently tied to Tech have been T.J. Holyfield from Stephen F. Austin (who has yet to announce his decision after vitiating Tech, Kansas and Illinois) and Yanni Wetzell from Vanderbilt (who has committed to San Diego State).

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And the fact that Tech has been so active in the recruitment of big men is a healthy indication of where Ondigo stands. After all, he saw action in just 18 games this season averaging just 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.

What’s more, he appeared in only seven combined games in Big 12 play and the NCAA Tournament. And the only one of those games that was not decided by double-digits was the Red Raiders’ loss to West Virginia in the Big 12 Tournament when Chris Beard emptied his bench in exasperation trying to find someone capable of providing a spark as Tech fell behind by double digits in the first half.

But it was in Tech’s fourth Big 12 game when it became clear that Ondigo had not earned Beard’s trust. In Tech’s 68-62 win in Austin, Ondigo did not play despite the fact that the Red Raiders were without an injured Deshawn Corprew who missed all but four minutes of the game with a strained calf. Despite taking on a Texas team that had a size advantage down low with 6-foot-11 Jaxon Hayes and two 6-foot-9 forwards in Dylan Osetkowski and Jericho Sims, Beard primarily went with a 4-guard lineup to close out the game.

When he signed with Texas Tech, Ondigo was a fairly well-regarded prospect. Ranked the No. 23 center in the nation and the No. 3 player in Connecticut by 247Sports, he held offers from Purdue, Nevada, Boston College, Colorado, Memphis, Minnesota, Pitt and Washington State among others.

But he never seemed to be able to put it together in two years as a Red Raider. His inability to handle the basketball led to a number of turnovers and at times he committed inexcusable mental gaffes on defense. Thus, it seems to make sense for him to explore other options after failing to even crack Beard’s rotation after two full years in Lubbock.

Though he has said he is leaving open the possibility that he could return, that seems highly unlikely at this point. Texas Tech needs a veteran big man next season that Beard can rely on to log heavy minutes and provide leadership with both his play and his demeanor.

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That does not seem to be what Ondigo is capable of providing at this time (despite the fact that he is by all accounts a fantastic young man). Thus, it comes as no surprise to see Ondigo in the transfer portal and to see Tech looking for an upgrade at a position where the roster is woefully depleted.

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