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Texas Tech basketball: Preseason accolades for the Red Raider roster

By Matthew Conner

AMES, IA - FEBRUARY 22: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drives the ball in the first half of the play at Hilton Coliseum on February 22, 2020 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Tech Red Raiders won 87-57 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - FEBRUARY 22: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drives the ball in the first half of the play at Hilton Coliseum on February 22, 2020 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Tech Red Raiders won 87-57 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images) /
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Feb 16, 2019; Lubbock, TX, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders entertain the crowd during the game against the Baylor Bears at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2019; Lubbock, TX, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders entertain the crowd during the game against the Baylor Bears at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Freshman of the Year: Micah Peavy

When trying to decide which Red Raider freshman will make the greatest impact this year, the choice comes down to either Nimari Burnett or Micah Peavy.  I’ll go with the latter because he is the more versatile player.

Peavy was teammates with former Red Raider Jahmi’us Ramsey at Duncanville High School in 2018-19 and they captured the 6-A Texas state title that year.  Last year, as a senior playing for his father, the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 19 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

He was the no. 43 player in his recruiting class and the second-highest rated player in the state of Texas.  What’s more, he’s the third-highest ranked recruit to ever sign with the Red Raiders.  However, he’s not even the highest-rated former recruit on this year’s roster.

That’s because fellow freshman Nimari Burnett was the no. 34-player in the country.  Additionally, the 6-foot-4 guard was named a McDonald’s All-American making him the first Red Raider recruit to ever earn that honor.

Thus, both players should be expected to play significant roles this year.  But Peavy might be the more college-ready player.  He also is a more natural fit in beard’s positionless system where his length and height will allow him to guard multiple positions. (Not that Burnett can’t do that either given that he has a wingspan of nearly seven feet.)

Peavy reportedly has a fantastic mid-range game as well as the ability to make plays off the dribble.  Those skills will make him a natural fit in Beard’s motion offense.

Peavy also has some of the “street dog” mentality that Beard loves to see in his players and he plays with a level of aggressiveness on both ends of the floor that will endear him to the fan base. The son of a coach, he is well-schooled on the importance of nuances of the game as well.

There are four true freshmen on the roster this year and Peavy and Burnett seem the most likely to be regular role players this season.  In fact, either could break out and become the third one-and-done NBA Draft pick from Tech following in the footsteps of Zhaire Smith in 2018 and Jahmi’us Ramsey in 2020.

But because of his size and his background as the son of a coach, I give the preseason Freshman of the Year nod to Peavy.  He arrives on campus as the most well-rounded freshman in the program and he will be a significant factor almost immediately.

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