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Texas Tech basketball: What the addition of Joel Ntambwe means for the program

By Matthew Conner

RENO, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 27: Tre'Shawn Thurman #0 of the Nevada Wolf Pack watches as Joel Ntambwe #24 of the UNLV Rebels takes a jump shot during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the UNLV Rebels at Lawlor Events Center on February 27, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)
RENO, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 27: Tre'Shawn Thurman #0 of the Nevada Wolf Pack watches as Joel Ntambwe #24 of the UNLV Rebels takes a jump shot during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the UNLV Rebels at Lawlor Events Center on February 27, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images) /
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Tech appears highly unlikely to land 5-star guard R.J. Hampton

While landing a player of Joel Ntambwe’s caliber is a great move, it is also a bit of a disappointment for the Red Raider fans hoping to land one more huge fish in the 2019 recruiting class.  Over the past month, Beard and his staff have been heavily in the mix for Little Elm, Texas 5-star guard R.J. Hampton, who has said that Tech was in his final three schools along with Memphis and Kansas.

But now that Tech has given its final open scholarship to a transfer, it would seem to indicate that the coaching staff does not feel confident in their chances with Hampton, the No. 6 player in the nation. And the fact that he is set to announce his decision Tuesday, despite having never taken a visit to Lubbock, should be another indication that the Red Raiders are not his likely landing spot.

Making matters even worse for Tech is that most believe that Kansas is the frontrunner in the Hampton sweepstakes.  The Jayhawks are also considered to be in the lead for Jalen Wilson, a top-50 prospect originally committed to Michigan, who is close friends with Hampton.

Of course, Memphis can’t be counted out thanks to the unbelievable recruiting skills of head coach Penny Hardaway, who has put together the nation’s top class in just his second season with the Tigers.  But Hardaway’s backcourt already appears crowded with blue-chip signees making Hampton’s fit at Kansas seem more natural.

Of course, high school kids sometimes make surprising decisions so when Hampton announces his choice Tuesday on national television, there is always an outside chance that he picks Tech but Red Raider fans should not hold their breath. Certainly, if Hampton were to tell Beard that he wants to come to Lubbock, the staff would juggle the roster and the scholarship situation in order to accommodate him.  But if the Tech staff had any indication that they were still in good shape to land the highest-ranked uncommitted prospect remaining in the 2019 class, they likely would have waited until after Hampton’s official announcement to add Ntambwe.

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