It’s no secret that the Texas Tech basketball program is in the market for help at the guard position. Fortunately, Monday’s addition of Dallas Baptist transfer Chandler Jacobs helps in that regard but still, Mark Adams and his staff are trying to add more firepower in the backcourt.
Apparently, the Red Raiders are interested in Costal Carolina transfer DeVante’ Jones, at least that’s what he has told Jack Pilgrim of Kentucky Sports Radio. Pilgrim Tweeted on Tuesday that Jones told him the Red Raiders along with Texas, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, St. John’s, Kansas, Oklahoma State, TCU, Memphis, Michigan, and Baylor have all reached out to him since he put his name in the transfer portal six days ago.
The Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2020-21, Jones averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game this past season. All three of those numbers would have led the Red Raiders.
Jones also has entered his name in the NBA Draft but has not signed an agent. But most believe that another year at the college level is in his future.
"“I just want to explore all of my opportunities and have the chance to showcase my abilities on a bigger platform,” he said to ESPN.com’s Jeff Borzello. “I have worked hard as a student-athlete at CCU and will be graduating in May. For these reasons, coupled with a coach advancing his career by taking a job at a different institution, I have officially decided to re-enter the transfer portal. With that being said, I still will be following my dreams of playing in the NBA as my first option; thank you Teal nation!”"
The New Orleans native shot over 38% from 3-point range for Coastal Carolina this past season. That’s certainly a skillset that Tech covets and were he to pair with Jacobs (who shot over 44% from deep this season) at Tech, it would make the Red Raiders nearly impossible to defend at the guard position given the way each player is also capable of putting the ball on the floor to get to the rim.
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Jones didn’t face any major conference opponents this season. But in the 2019-20 season, he had a 16-point effort against Utah and ten points against both Baylor and Mississippi State.
This season, he put up 13 20-point or more performances as he raised his scoring average by two points per game. His season-high of 35 points came against mightily Alice Lloyd College, one of three 30-point outings to his credit on the year.
There’s no doubt that this is the type of firepower Tech needs to add at the guard spot, especially with the massive defections the program has sustained this month. But the competition for Jones is going to be particularly tough and it will test how well this new coaching staff can recruit to Lubbock.