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Texas Tech basketball: Red Raiders land D-II All-American Chandler Jacobs

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 16: Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot "Raider Red" fires up the crowd before the game against the Baylor Bears on February 16, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 86-61. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 16: Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot "Raider Red" fires up the crowd before the game against the Baylor Bears on February 16, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 86-61. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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Chandler Jacobs, one of the most prolific scorers in the D-II ranks, has committed to transfer to the Texas Tech basketball program.  That news broke Monday morning and it is certainly a great addition for head coach Mark Adams.

"“I choose Texas Tech because of the challenge and opportunity it presents with the coaches leading the charge,” Jacobs told ESPN.com. “I believe God will use this new challenge to pull something out of me and develop me like no other. I trust Him, I believe He has prepared me and called me to this challenge, I just need to answer the call.”"

Also in the running for Jacobs’ services were California, Vanderbilt, Colorado State, and Wyoming.  But now, he’s going to bring his well-rounded game to the Big 12.

The all-time leading scorer for Dallas Baptist, Jacobs averaged 20.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 steals this past season to earn D-II All-American honors.  Perhaps, his greatest skill though is his 3-point shot as he hit at a 45% rate in 2020-21.

Tech certainly needs that type of scoring punch and shooting from the 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard.  With the departures of Mac McClung, Kyler Edwards, Terrance Shannon Jr., and Micah Peavy, Tech has lost 44.2 points per game from last year’s guards/small forwards.

But Jacobs is not just a scorer.  He’s also a rugged defender.  In fact, he was named the Lone Star Conference defensive player of the year this season.  That will make him a natural fit in Mark Adams’ program.

What’s more, he led his team in rebounds with 162.  In other words, Jacobs is willing to do whatever it takes to win.

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But ultimately, Tech will need him to be an offensive force.  That’s exactly what he was at Dallas Baptist for the last four years as he averaged at least 14.9 points per game every year of his college career.

"“He is so quick there is almost no one that can stay in front of him one on one,” said his DBU head coach Blake Flickner. “So then teams either have to concede him a layup, foul him, or help. When they help, they leave some of our guys open. Chandler has a lot of gravity that draws defenders toward him, and early on in his career, he did not always see those kicks. But he is now, and he’s finding the open man. That’s why it’s good to have multiple shooters around a guy like Chandler because defenses can’t help on him without giving up an open shot.”"

Having a player of his ability to handle the point guard duties could be a huge boost to Tech given that the team’s primary creator off the dribble in 2020-21, Mac McClung, is no longer part of the equation.  But also, Tech needed a knock-down 3-point shooter to stretch the floor and stress defenses after the departure of Edwards, who has signed to play at Houston next season.

If there is one concern about Jacobs, it has to be whether his game will translate to the Big 12 level, which is lightyears ahead of what he was playing against at DBU.  But only time will tell if he’s able to make such a massive jump in competition.

Still, this was one of Tech’s most highly-valued targets in the transfer portal and Adams has landed him.  Jacobs’ commitment is a significant step towards rebuilding a roster that was decimated by defections in recent weeks and it provides Tech with some much-needed good news in a month when that has been tough to come by at times.

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