Texas Tech basketball transfers who didn't live up to the hype

Joel Ntambwe. Many fans remember that name despite the fact that he did almost nothing as a Red Raider. In fact, few transfers have had so much of a hold over a fan base while ending up doing so little as he did during his Texas Tech career.

In 2018-19, the 6-foot-8 forward was stellar for UNLV. As a true freshman, he scored 11.8 points and pulled down 5.5 rebounds per game. Thus, when he decided to transfer to Texas Tech, fans across Raiderland were thrilled.

Unfortunately, Ntambwe was forced to sit out the 2019-20 season due to NCAA transfer rules. That was despite numerous appeals on his behalf by the Texas Tech basketball program.

As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder and while Ntambwe sat out, he developed a cult following among Tech fans who were certain that he was the program's next star. That didn't prove to be the case.

Once Ntambwe did make his Red Raider debut, he played in only three games. Averaging 4.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game, he was essentially a non-factor. He would then abruptly leave the program early in the season not to return thus ending his NCAA career.

His Red Raider career is a reminder that even the most highly-anticipated transfers are not guaranteed to pan out. Ntambwe was supposed to be a star addition for Texas Tech but, like the others on this list, his career wound up being just a whisper in the West Texas wind.