Texas Tech basketball should target this point guard in the transfer portal

Point guard is one of the Texas Tech basketball program's biggest needs this offseason. With Joe Toussaint having graduated after averaging 12.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game and no ready-made replacement on the roster, head coach Grant McCasland and his staff are going to have to find the Red Raiders' next floor general in the transfer portal.

One intriguing option Tech should pursue, Chucky Hepburn, entered the portal on Thursday and could be exactly what the Red Raiders need. This past season, he put up 9.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game for Wisconsin.

Hepburn would have only one season of eligibility remaining. However, that shouldn't be a drawback. After all, this program needs to find some veteran leaders to help add some experience and toughness to the roster.

Hepburn is certainly a leader. He was often who the Badgers turned to to make plays in tight games as he did in Wisconsin's upset of National Runner-Up Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. That day, in a 76-75 OT win, Hepburn sent the game to the extra five minutes by hitting a layup at the buzzer.

He ended that day with 22 points, four assists, and three steals to lead his team to the upset. However, it wasn't the only time he played well against excellent opponents.

A game later, Hepburn had 20 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals in a losing effort as his team fell to Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament Championship. He also had 18 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals in a regular-season game at Iowa.

It isn't all about offense for Hepburn, though. In fact, he's a renowned defender as well.

This season, he was a member of the Big Ten's All-Defensive team. What's more, last year, he had a defensive rating of 99.6 (anything under 100 in that category is considered excellent).

This year, McCasland sacrificed some of his defensive preferences because he simply didn't have players, especially guards, capable of playing the type of defense he wanted his team to. Thus, any players he brings aboard this offseason will likely be stronger in that area of the game than those Tech relied on in McCasland's first season with the program.

Hepburn is an all-around perfect fit for the Red Raiders. However, the competition for his services will be intense.

There isn't any obvious connection between the Tech coaching staff and Hepburn, a Nebraska native. That shouldn't stop McCasland and his staff from expressing interest in Hepburn's recruitment, though. Texas Tech needs a leader and a point guard and Hepburn is one of the best that the Red Raiders could hope to land in the portal this offseason.