Texas Tech basketball: Terrence Shannon Jr. declares for draft; may still return

Now that the drama of the coaching change is behind us, one of the biggest questions surrounding the Texas Tech basketball program this offseason is going to be the status of forward Terrence Shannon Jr.  Thursday, the Chicago native took a step towards answering questions about his future as a Red Raider when he declared for the NBA Draft.  However, because he hasn’t hired an agent, Shannon could still return for another season.

Announcing his decision on Twitter, the 6-foot-7 lefty now has the opportunity to go through the NBA Draft evaluation process where he will have an opportunity to receive feedback from teams in the Association before making his ultimate decision. This marks the second-straight year that a Red Raider has taken this route after Jahmi’us Ramsey also went through the evaluation and feedback process before hiring an agent last offseason.

Ultimately, Ramsey fell to the second round of the draft where he was taken by Sacramento.  He is currently splitting time between the NBA and the G League.  He’s played 12 games in the G League while appearing in only five games with the Kings thus far.

Perhaps Ramsey’s journey will be a cautionary tale for Shannon who, like Ramsey was last offseason, is projected as a late first-round to a mid-second round draft pick.  Players in that range are in perilous danger of falling out of the top 30 picks which means they don’t get a guaranteed contract thus making it far more likely that they will spend the majority of their rookie seasons (and likely beyond) in the G League.

https://twitter.com/Sn1per_T/status/1380240481192452102?s=20

This past season, Shannon was Tech’s second-leading scorer at 12.9 points per game.  He was also fourth on the team in rebounding at 4.0 per outing.

More from Wreck'Em Red

• Texas Tech football: Red Raider fans need to know about these Mountaineers
• Texas Tech football: Red Raiders land first commit for class of 2025
• Texas Tech football: Why have the Red Raiders struggled on the road under McGuire?
• Texas Tech football: Why the Red Raiders can compete for a Big 12 title
• Texas Tech football: Plenty of questions remain as conference play arrives

It was a nice sophomore season for the electrifying athlete.  He saw his 3-point percentage improve from 25.7% as a true freshman to 35.7% in 2020-21.  Additionally, his assists per game increased by nearly half an assist.

Shannon’s future is of critical importance to the Red Raiders because there is the possibility that both he and the player he split time with at the small forward spot, Micah Peavy, could both leave the program this offseason.  Peavy has put his name in the transfer portal as rumors persist that his father, currently the head coach at Duncanville High School, could be in line for an assistant coach position at the college level.  And being as the elder Peavy has known for nearly two decades a certain former Texas Tech head coach who is now living in Austin, there’s the thought that Peavy might wind up as a Longhorn.

But all of that is pure speculation at this point.  We won’t know the futures of either Shannon or Peavy for at least a few weeks, if not longer.

However, it is clear that the first job that Mark Adams has as head coach is to salvage the roster as best he can and then try to supplement the returnees with new talent.  And if Shannon decides to stay in the NBA Draft, it will leave a massive hole in for the new man in charge to fill.