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Texas Tech basketball: Red Raiders land Jaylon Tyson…again

By Matthew Conner

Nov 9, 2021; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Jaylon Tyson (20) reacts after scoring during the second half against the Houston Baptist Huskies at Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2021; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Jaylon Tyson (20) reacts after scoring during the second half against the Houston Baptist Huskies at Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports /
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In one of the more unusual twists of fate on the recruiting trail, the Texas Tech basketball team has landed a commitment from guard/forward Jaylon Tyson for the second time.  This time though here’s betting it sticks.

Tyson played the past semester at Texas where he averaged just 1.8 points per game in eight appearances.  And just over a week ago, he put his name in the transfer portal.  Then, on Sunday, he committed to the Red Raiders and Mark Adams meaning he can join the team for workouts (but not games) as soon as classes begin.

If this name is familiar to Red Raider fans, it is because Tyson was a long-time Red Raider commit as a high school prospect.  In May of 2020, he verbally committed to Tech and in November of that year, he actually signed his letter of intent.

But when Chris Beard left Lubbock for Texas, Tyson asked out of his letter of intent, a request that Tech granted.  Tyson and guard Avery Benson were the only two players with Texas Tech ties to follow Beard to Austin and now, Tyson has returned to his first college basketball home.

https://twitter.com/jaylontyson/status/1480363471346802695?s=20

Don’t let his meager stats in Austin fool you.  Tyson is a very good player.  As a high schooler, he was rated the No. 36 player in the nation and No. 9 small forward in his class by 247Sports.com.

"Brandon Jenkins of 247Sports had the following scouting report on Tyson as he was coming out of high school: “Tyson is a scoring wing who can make shots from all three ranges. What makes him special is his size, strength, and skill. Tyson has a lot in his triple threat bag as he can put the ball on the floor effectively to create a shot or get to the rim or shoot the ball accurately with range. He is strong with the ball in his hands and is a solid passer who can make the right finds on his attack. A prospect who blew up during the beginning of his junior high school season, Tyson has all the tools to be a productive offensive talent in the Big XII.”"

What’s more, Tyson’s commitment is a bit of a morale booster for Red Raider fans in the suddenly heated rivalry with the Longhorns.  Stealing Tyson away from Tech was originally a huge win for Beard and his new coaching staff but now, Tech fans are pointing to this turn of events as a sign that the culture in Lubbock is healthier than the culture Beard is cultivating on the 40 acres.

But no matter what it says for the hatred between Tech and UT, this is a significant development for the Red Raiders.  Jaylon Tyson has come back into the fold for the Red Raiders and that is a huge development for the future of Mark Adams’ program.

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