In the two years that Grant McCasland has been in charge of the Texas Tech basketball program, he's hit a number of home runs in the transfer portal. Without question, the two biggest transfers that he has brought to Lubbock are Darrion Williams and JT Toppin.
This season, both were named first-team All-Big 12 honorees. What's more, Toppin was the Big 12 Player of the Year despite being just a sophomore.
Texas Tech fans likely know what Williams and Toppin had in common prior to becoming Red Raiders. Each was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year the season before arriving in Lubbock.
In 2022-23, while playing for Nevada, Williams put up 7.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game on his way to being named the MWC's top freshman. Then, in 2023-24, Toppin earned that award after averaging 12.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game at New Mexico.
Thus, many Texas Tech basketball fans were hoping that the trend of adding the MWC Freshman of the Year would stretch to a third season. However, that streak is going to end at two years.
That's because San Diego State redshirt freshman Magoon Gwath, the 2025 MWC Freshman of the Year, has decided to return to the Aztecs after entering his name into the transfer portal. Though we will never know if Tech even pursued him during his brief time in the portal, it is easy to see how he could have been a tremendous fit for the Red Raiders.
A 7-footer from Euless, Texas, he posted 8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and a whopping 2.6 blocks per game. To put that block number in perspective, understand that former Red Raider Tariq Owens averaged just 2.4 blocks per game in 2018-19 when he set the single-season Texas Tech record with 92. Thus, it should be no shock that Gwath was also named his conference's Defensive Player of the Year.
Gwath is also an impressive offensive player, though. He is highly skilled as he shot 37.8% from 3-point range this season, making 2.6 three-pointers per game.
With Tech possibly set to lose both of its big men, Toppin (to the NBA) and Federiko Federiko (potentially to graduation), this offseason, adding size to the roster is a must. In fact, even if Toppin and Federiko both come back, it could be argued that bringing in more height and bulk in the post would be wise for McCasland and his coaching staff.
Unfortunately, Gwath is out of the portal and returning to San Diego State next season. Therefore, Tech will not be adding the MWC Freshman of the Year to its mix this offseason.
Still, the Red Raiders will be active in the portal, and there is always the possibility that another star from a mid-major conference could decide to play against the big boys of the Big 12 with the Red Raiders. But if Tech wants another freshman of the year, it will have to raid a conference other than the Mountain West.