Texas Tech basketball: Red Raiders in the mix for 4-star guard
Though almost the entire focus of the Texas Tech basketball fan base has been on how the new coaching staff is putting together next season’s roster, Mark Adams and Co. are also looking towards the more distant future by trying to land some of the top high school prospects in the class of 2022.
One such target is Derrian Ford who on Friday announced his top 11 schools, a list that includes Texas Tech. Also with the Red Raiders on Ford’s list are Auburn, Kansas, Missouri, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Florida, Alabama, Baylor, LSU, and Arkansas.
The native of Magnolia, Arkansas is rated as a 4-star recruit and the No. 38 player in the nation according to 247Sports.com. And given his skill set, he could fill an immediate need for Tech the moment he set foot on campus.
The 6-foot-3 guard was the class 4-A player of the year in Arkansas this year. And as a guard who is comfortable with the ball in his hands, he could slide right into a Red Raider lineup that might be searching for guard help following the upcoming season.
#ThatWork I want to thank all the schools that have recruited me. I am honored that you had even a bit of interest in me. I’m going to keep working hard. With that being said, I have cut my list down to the Top 11 schools. God gets all the glory!!🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🏀🏀🏀🔥🔥🔥💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾 #Top11 pic.twitter.com/bOzrpmAaIQ
— Derrian Ford (@thetruthballers) June 11, 2021
Remember that, Tech is set to lose transfers Davion Warren and Adonis Arms to graduation after the 2021-22 season. What’s more, the roster as currently constructed is light on talent from players that are pure guards. Thus, it is likely that Tech could target another grad transfer guard to fill one of its remaining scholarships but if that happens, there will be an even greater hole to fill in the backcourt next offseason.
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Perhaps Ford could be a solution. He averaged 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game as a junior and will be an immediate impact player at whatever school he picks.
Right now, Tech has yet to land a commitment from any 2022 prospect, which is not surprising given April’s coaching transition. But that doesn’t mean that Adams isn’t at work putting together the class of 2022.
In fact, earlier this week, three of the top targets in West Texas were on campus to check out the Red Raider program. Amarillo products Brendan Hausen (a 3-star shooting guard), Cade Hornecker (a 6-foot-11 3-star center), and Damonze Woods (a 6-foot-7 power forward) are all considered top Red Raider targets, and the trio made the trip to the Hub City for an unofficial visit.
So don’t overlook what the Red Raiders are attempting to do on the 2022 recruiting front despite the fact that the construction of the 2021-22 roster is of more intrigue to most fans. That’s because the future will soon become the present meaning that Mark Adams had better start putting together the future of his program.