Texas Tech hoops: Red Raiders in top 3 for R.J. Hampton; Kentucky cut

The Texas Tech basketball team remains in play for 5-star guard R.J. Hampton who has cut his list of schools to three after eliminating Kentucky.

The top remaining uncommitted recruit in the class of 2019, R.J. Hampton, still has the Texas Tech basketball program as one of his potential landing spots.  That puts the Red Raiders in his top three along with Kansas and Memphis after the Little Elm, Texas native eliminated Kentucky from consideration earlier this week.

This revelation came via Hampton’s father Rod, who appeared on a Memphis area radio program where he said that the Wildcats are no longer in consideration because their backcourt is already set.   The Cats have already signed three top-25 guards/wings in the 247Sports.com 2019 prospect rankings including No. 10 Tyrese Maxey, No. 12 Khalil Whitney and No. 23 Keion Brooks.

But while Hampton, the No. 5 player in the class, likely does not fear competition, he also may be looking for an opportunity to have a guaranteed lead role in what most expect to be his lone collegiate season.  Playing for a team with multiple NBA hopefuls certainly has become commonplace in the modern era of college basketball but one must wonder if Hampton would relish the opportunity to fulfill what would almost certainly be a lead role at a program like Texas Tech, which is on the rise nationally.

Tech currently has the No. 14 class in the nation headlined by Jahmius Ramsey, the No. 31 overall player.  But while Hampton may bot be guaranteed a starting spot in next year’s backcourt in Lexington, he would be certain to start next to Davide Moretti and either Ramsey, Deshawn Corprew or Kyler Edwards for the Red Raiders.

As for Memphis, currently sporting the No. 1 class in the nation, the Tigers have already signed seven players in the class of 2019 including three guards in the top 108.  Recently adding Boogie Ellis, the No. 37 player in the nation and the No. 5 shooting guard in the class, Memphis might also have a crowded backcourt next year.

What’s more, Memphis is reportedly at the NCAA limit of 13 scholarships but that could change if guard Rayjon Taylor keeps his name in the NBA Draft.  Hampton has already visited Memphis as well as Kansas and both schools are believed to be more likely landing sports than Texas Tech.

More from Wreck'Em Red

• Texas Tech football: Red Raider fans need to know about these Mountaineers
• Texas Tech football: Red Raiders land first commit for class of 2025
• Texas Tech football: Why have the Red Raiders struggled on the road under McGuire?
• Texas Tech football: Why the Red Raiders can compete for a Big 12 title
• Texas Tech football: Plenty of questions remain as conference play arrives

"“We don’t need to visit Kansas or Memphis, but the next couple of days he’s going to decide where Texas Tech stands. If he’s serious about that, then we’ll go visit,” Rod Hampton recently told the Kansas City Star."

Given what the Kansas roster looks like at this point, it wold seem like Bill Self and the Jayhawks may have the inside track.  Three current members of the KU team, including guards Quentin Grimes and Devon Dotson, have entered their names in the NBA Draft and could return to school.  But neither are currently listed as first round picks in most mock drafts, which could spell a return to campus.

At 6-foot-5, 185-pounds, Hampton would be a perfect fit in the position-less scheme that Chris Beard loves to employ.  His ability to create offense off the dribble and his smooth jump-shot would fit in perfectly next to the Big 12’s best 3-point shooter in Moretti and Ramsey, a slashing guard with freakish athleticism but who lacks refinement on his jumper.

Ranked second in the prestigious EYBL circuit with 28 points per game, Hampton would help offset the scoring loss of 2018-19 Big 12 Player of the Year, Jarrett Culver.  And should he come to Tech for a season and then head to the NBA, he would be the the third first-round draft pick to come through Lubbock in as many years, something that would certainly be a feather in Chris Beard’s cap.  (Certainly, the fact that Beard has sent Zhaire Smith and Jarrett Culver to the NBA in the last two years is a huge reason why Tech is even in the running for Hampton in the first place.)

Though Texas Tech is squarely in the mix for this potentially program-changing prospect, it would still seem like landing this blue-chip talent is a bit of a long shot.  247Sports gives Kansas an 81% shot at winning the R.J. Hampton derby, which would be especially damaging for the Red Raiders.  But as we learned this season, Chris Beard is dangerous when it seems like everyone is counting him out.