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Texas Tech basketball: Three newcomers we can’t wait to see in action

By Matthew Conner

Mar 7, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Members of the Texas Tech Red Raiders student body during a timeout in the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Members of the Texas Tech Red Raiders student body during a timeout in the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 26, 2019; Lubbock, TX, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders are illuminated by fire before a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2019; Lubbock, TX, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders are illuminated by fire before a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Nimari Burnett

Of course, the year that Texas Tech finally lands the first McDonalds All-American in program history, that showcase high school game is canceled due to COVID-19.  But that doesn’t take away from the excitement that surrounds the arrival of guard Nimari Burnett.

Never in the history of Red Raider basketball has a player of his pedigree decided to call Lubbock home.  Rated the No. 34 player and No. 6 shooting guard in the nation, he is the highest-ranked recruit in program history.

In addition to Tech, the 4-star signee held offers from Michigan, Illinois, Louisville, Oregon, Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Arkansas, and several other programs.  But the Chicago native picked Tech despite the fact that the Red Raiders were somewhat late in entering this recruiting fray as they didn’t offer him a scholarship until after most of the other programs on this list had.

What Tech fans are going to love about Burnett is his two-way game.  Despite being an All-American, he has the desire to be just as good of a defender as he is a scorer.

At 6-foot-4 but reportedly with a wingspan that nears 7-feet, he’s got the makings of a potential defensive stopper.  What’s more, he plays with the type of “street-dog” mentality that Chris Beard covets in his players.

Offensively, there isn’t anything the polished guard can’t do.  While he isn’t going to play above the rim as Zharie Smith did in 2017-18, he can create off the dribble and score in traffic.  He also has a smooth mid-range game that will be a perfect fit in Beard’s motion offense.

Why Red Raider fans are so excited to see Bennett in action is because he represents a new era for the program.  He will finally give us a chance to see what Beard can do when working with a McDonald’s All-American and based on what we’ve seen him accomplish with 3-star recruits like Jarrett Culver, it’s easy to get excited about what the future holds for Nimari Burnett.

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