2nd team: Jordan Tolbert
At a time when Texas Tech basketball was in its dark ages, 6-foot-7 forward Jordan Tolbert was a bright spot. The Dallas native spent three years as a Red Raider from 2011-14 before transferring back home to SMU because of family reasons.
As a Red Raider, he averaged 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks per game. His best season was actually his true freshman campaign when he put up 11.5 points and 5.7 boards for a team that went just 8-23 overall and 1-17 in the Big 12. That year, his 357 points were good for fifth all-time at Texas Tech for a freshman, while his 177 rebounds were good for fourth.
Prior to the 2012 season, Tolbert, who was never afraid of speaking his mind, went on record saying that he did not want to play a second season under then-head coach Billie Gillespie, who was on sick leave at the time of Tolbert’s remarks. He was one of a handful of Red Raiders who complained to AD Kirby Hocutt about Gillespie breaking NCAA rules on practice times per week. Of course, Gillespie would not return and Tolbert remained with the program for that season and one more.
Tolbert was the classic back to the basket power forward. He had an array of post moves that are seen less and less in the modern era and he played bigger than his 6-foot-7 frame suggested he should but that was thanks in large part to his 240-pound body.
When we think of Jordan Tolbert, it is unfortunate that we are reminded of the worst stretch the program has seen in the last three decades. He not only had to endure the death of his father while at Tech, but he also had to go through the wildest coaching situation anyone could ever have imagined as he had to play for three different head coaches in three years. It’s a shame how many players on our all-decade team were in that same boat when it comes to the latter of those circumstances.