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Texas Tech basketball: Tech in the mix for 4-star forward Zach Keller

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 27: An introduction video plays before the college basketball game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns at United Supermarkets Arena on February 27, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 27: An introduction video plays before the college basketball game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns at United Supermarkets Arena on February 27, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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One of the tasks new Texas Tech basketball head coach Mark Adams has yet to prove capable of accomplishing is bringing elite high school talent to Lubbock.  While his assembling this summer of a transfer-heavy roster has been impressive, replenishing the program’s talent stores with high school players who can make a true impact is also going to be a key component of keeping the Red Raiders relevant on the national scene.

A name to watch in that regard is Zach Keller, a 6-foot-9 forward from Colorado.  On Sunday, the 4-star prospect trimmed his list of potential schools to six and the Red Raiders made the cut along with Illinois, Utah, TCU, Wake Forest, and Colorado.

The No. 85 player in the nation according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings, Keller has seen his recruitment blow up in recent months, especially with the year-long COVID-induced recruiting dead period now in the past.  He’s also back to being healthy after hip surgery cost him his sophomore season and an ankle sprain severely limited his availability as a junior.  Now, playing at full strength, he’s showing out on the club team circuit and top programs around the nation have taken notice.

https://twitter.com/ZachKeller19/status/1424415868784578562?s=20

Keller is cut from the new cloth of the stretch forward.  He can shoot the ball from anywhere on the court while also using his height to be a force on the glass.  That’s the type of versatility Adams appears to be looking for while building his program.

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This offseason has seen Adams and his coaching staff add a pair of forwards in UTEP transfer Bryson Williams and Oral Roberts transfer Kevin Obanor who can stretch defenses by hitting shots from outside the lane and beyond the arc while also being dogged rebounders.  Perhaps Keller will join those two players in becoming a Red Raider to give Adams the type of big man he covets to build around.

"“I can go inside-outside,” Keller told Rivals.com’s Travis Brahnam. “If I have a mismatch and you want me to get him inside I can abuse any big I want, I can step out, I can drive, I can shoot. I actually changed my shot, it used to be behind my head but now it’s in front. I can pass and some coaches say I have a bit of Jokic because I can find people when I want to.”"

He went on to tell Brahnam that he is targeting November as a rough time frame for his final decision though he indicated that his commitment could come sooner. Thus, it is imperative that Tech get Keller on campus for an official visit as soon as possible given that he’s already visited TCU, Wake Forest, and Utah.

Keep an eye on Keller and any news of a potential visit to the South Plains.  He is a player that could immediately make an impact for the Red Raiders and landing him would be a significant sign that Adams can recruit the high school ranks as well as he has proven he can recruit the transfer portal.

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