Top 100 national prospect takes official visit with Texas Tech basketball

If anything was obvious in the Texas Tech basketball team's embarrassing loss to Texas on Tuesday night, it is that this program needs to add serious size to the roster. That's why it was so important that one of the nation's top big men was on hand for an official visit on Tuesday night.

4-star center Jaden Toombs from Dallas, Texas was in Lubbock to take in the atmosphere and see all that Lubbock has to offer. He is one of the top high school targets in the class of 2025 for the Red Raiders and his is a name to watch on the recruiting trail.

Rated by 247Sports.com as the No. 63 player in the country, he's the No. 8 center in his class and the No. 8 player in Texas. In addition to Tech, he holds offers from LSU and SMU. It is also being reported that Oklahoma has an interest in this powerful post presence.

This was not Toombs' first visit to Lubbock as 247Sports shows that he was also in town back in September. That's good news for the Red Raiders.

Brandon Jenkins of 247Sports has the following scouting report on Toombs: "Toombs is a true center who consistently plays with effort. He is strong and skilled enough to post up with confidence and is effective in playing on the block. All of his production offensively comes as a finisher inside. He has solid hands to catch passes in tight spaces and a nice touch to score off soft hooks in a crowd with reliability.

"His work ethic towards getting better is displayed through his body. His frame and conditioning have noticeably improved over the years as he has been a steadfast worker in being a big who can get up and down the floor. While he shows skill and plays with a solid motor, Toombs can play above the rim but is not one who affects the game with his ability to get off the floor.

"However, he is fundamentally sound in his approach to the game. Whether it is setting screens, competing on the glass, running the floor, or creating scoring opportunities on the post with great footwork, Toombs has all the tools to be a valuable piece to the puzzle from the five-man spot."

Adding size to the mix is going to be a priority for head coach Grant McCasland moving forward. That's because this year has shown us that trying to run through the brutal Big 12 schedule with only one true post player is no way to operate.

Prior to this season, Tech lost a pair of 7-footers to the transfer portal in Fardaws Aimaq and Daniel Batcho. Each is playing well this year with Aimaq averaging over 14 points and 11 rebounds per game for Cal and Batcho putting up 14.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game at Louisiana Tech.

Thus, Tech was forced to go to the portal as well and fortunately, Warren Washington was willing to come to Lubbock. However, the program couldn't find any other true big men to join him leaving the team perilously thin in the paint.

Now, with Washington trying to work his way back from a toe injury, Tech has hit the skids. With Washington having played only once in the last four games, the Red Raiders are only 1-3 during that span and much of that has been because the program has had to ask 6-foot-7 Robert Jennings and 6-foot-8 Eemile Yalaho to be its primary post presences.

What's more, Washington will be out of eligibility after this season meaning the hunt for more size will continue to be a pressing issue for McCasland. Unfortunately, Toombs wouldn't be on campus until after next season so he doesn't present immediate help.

Still, for the program to avoid situations like it is currently dealing with, continually adding big men of Toombs' caliber will be imperative. That's why this recruiting battle is one worth keeping a close eye on.