Texas Tech basketball: Key recruiting targets to monitor this fall

Point guard Jaylen Murray could be the next Texas Tech basketball signee from Putnam Science Academy.

In each of the last four recruiting classes, Texas Tech has brought in a player from Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut.  That includes 2020 signee, Vlad Goldin, a 7-footer originally from Russia.

This year, another Putnam product has an offer from Beard’s program.  But unlike his four predecessors from Putnam, all of whom are big men, Jaylen Murray is a point guard.  And not only is he a point guard, he’s just a 5-foot-9 point guard (though some on Twitter say he is now 5-foot-11), making him seem like a bit of an odd fit in Beard’s system, especially on defense where the Red Raiders employ a switch-everything scheme.

Murray is rated the No. 37 point guard in the nation and No. 4 player in Connecticut.  But there is some reason to wonder if he is still being pursued by Tech.  That’s because, according to 247Sports, his offer from Beard came all the way back in 2018.  A lot can change in two years, including Texas Tech making a run to the National Title Game and winning the Big 12 in 2019.

Now, one has to wonder if Beard is on to bigger fish than the 3-star Murray.   What’s more, point guard is a position that appears to be in great shape for the 2021-22 season thanks to the addition of Wichita State transfer Jamarius Burton, who is likely to sit out the upcoming season.

Still, it seems like Murray is at least on Beard’s radar given that he has an offer from the Red Raiders.  In fact, that is currently the only offer he has according to 247Sports.  It is for that reason and because of the Texas Tech/Putnam connection that this is a player worth keeping an eye on.