Grant McCasland provides update on the recovery of forward Devan Cambridge

One of this offseason's key developments for the Texas Tech basketball program has been the announced return of senior forward Devan Cambridge. Of course, his effectiveness next season will depend on his ability to recover from a knee injury that caused him to miss all but eight games of 2023-24.

On Tuesday, as he met with the media, Texas Tech basketball head coach Grant McCasland was asked about Cambridge and his recovery from knee surgery. Fortunately, he sounded optimistic about the former Arizona State transfer's progress.

"Devin Cambridge has really made huge strides," McCasland said. "He's playing around in the gym and shooting. He's not supposed to be doing too much but he's moving well, I mean I think in a straight line, and a lot of the things that you want to see as far as strength, he's right on time in order to be able to play this next season. You never know exactly when that's going to happen but I would anticipate it being in the first semester and the non-conference play we'll get him out there and he looks excited he looks refreshed and it looks great."

Cambridge's recovery could be a huge aspect of Tech's 2024-25 season. If he can return to the form he showed in his eight games played this season, he will be a tremendous asset to the Red Raiders.

In the seven full games he played before suffering his injury, he scored in double figures five times and averaged 10.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. What's more, at the time of his injury, he was playing his best basketball of the season having posted at least ten points in four straight games and having scored 17 and 16 respectively in the previous two games against Michigan and Butler.

Fans may not remember because of how little we saw of Cambridge but he can be an incredibly valuable asset for the program. Before he went down for the season, he was not only starting as Tech's power forward but he was also playing long stretches as Tech's biggest player on the floor when 7-footer Warren Washington was on the bench.

Despite being only 6-foot-6, Cambridge displayed enough athleticism and savvy to be able to guard other team's big men. On offense, when he was playing as Tech's 5-man, he created serious mismatches by being able to draw opposing rim protectors away from the goal.

When he was sidelined, the Red Raiders lost some versatility for sure. However, his injury did provide an opportunity for one of his teammates.

Over the first seven games of the season, guard Kerwin Walton was just a slightly-utilized bench piece. He averaged only 8.3 minutes per appearance and scored no more than three points in any game.

However, with Cambridge lost for the season, Walton was inserted in the starting lineup and he would wind up making every start for the rest of the year. In those games, he would average 9.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.

Walton took a step forward as a starter and averaged 46.3% shooting from 3-point range when in the starting lineup. He also improved noticeably as a defender going from a liability in that regard the season before to being a respectable player on that end of the court this season.

It was a case of one player's misfortune leading to an opportunity for the next man up. Now, Tech might get the most out of both Walton and Cambridge in 2024-25 and that could make the Red Raiders a deeper and more versatile team given how divergent the two players' games are.

Cambridge won't have to carry the load next season, especially if Tech adds another impact player on the wing. However, his return to the court could be a huge boost for a team that saw this past season just how impactful injuries can be in the Big 12.