Texas Tech basketball: 3 players that will be x-factors this season

Chibuzo

From the most experienced Red Raider, let’s look at one of the least experienced.  True freshman Chibuzo Agbo Jr. is going to have an opportunity to play a key role for this team and if he makes a smooth transition to the college game, it will give Beard a tremendous all-around weapon off the bench.

"“‘Buzo’ is a player that maybe isn’t getting talked about as much but he will be talked about very, very soon.” Beard said.  “He’s a positionless player that can really, really shoot the ball.  High character…he’s versatile.  He’s got a humility about him where you see “superstar” in the future but a work ethic and competitiveness where he can be [relevant] from day one.”"

Judging by those glowing remarks from Beard, we should start to think about what Agbo will be able to bring to the table.  And it will start with his potential as a versatile and physical defender.

At 6-foot-7, 215-pounds, he’s already an inch taller and five pounds heavier than Terrance Shannon Jr. was when he arrived last season and we saw the type of impact Shannon made right away thanks to his physical build.  While Agbo isn’t known to be as explosive as Shannon, Agbo has the potential to be able to guard multiple positions, from guards to forwards, and that’s something his head coach values.

Also, don’t overlook his offensive game.  Last year, he averaged 22 points per contest for his high school team, and already, there are rumblings from within the program that he’s one of the team’s best outside shooters.

He is going to have to come off the bench and provide some 3-point shooting given that this team may be short on that skill from its reserves this year.  In fact, his ability to hit shots from deep could be as important to this year’s squad as was Edwards’ ability to do so in 2018-19 for the Final Four team.

Agbo might have been overshadowed on the recruiting trail by such players as Nimari Burnett and Micah Peavy but he could wind up being Tech’s most impactful true freshman this year.  And if he proves ready to make an instant splash at the collegiate level, he will make Tech’s bench one of the best in the nation.