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Texas Basketball Recruiting Notes: Keep Austin Beard


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IT

Spoiler

Texas is working diligently to put together a roster for the 2021-22 season, but work is also well underway on the class of 2022. The in-state crop is ultra-talented, and the Longhorns are beginning from a position of strength on a number of recruitments.

Recruitments IT believes Texas is positioned to win under Chris Beard are those of top 15 nationally-ranked guard Keyonte George (iSchool Academy/Lewisville), PG Bryce Griggs (Hightower High/Missouri City) and G/W Anthony Black (Coppell High).

Texas has been in the top three for George for months, along with Texas Tech and Kentucky. The combination of Texas quietly being considered the favorite and Beard now in Austin could make the Longhorns tough to beat. The same can be said of Black. The near 6-foot-7 versatile guard quietly had Texas at the top of his list prior to Beard taking the gig.

Black, the stepson of Duncanville HC David Peavy, has ties to Baylor (dad played basketball there), but a source said in recent days, “Anthony loves Texas, and likes Coach Beard.”

Griggs has schools such as Kansas, Baylor, Memphis and Houston seriously in the hunt, but IT was told over the weekend that this is a recruitment Texas can win if they go all in. With the elite talent at guard instate in the class, Beard and staff will have to make some tough decisions on where they go in terms of going all in between Arterio Morris, Griggs or possibly Austin Nunez.

Of note: Griggs works on his game with T.J. Ford multiple times per week.

Prior to the coaching change, Texas was considered the leader for PG Austin Nunez over Arkansas and Virginia. It remains to be seen if Beard and staff will offer Nunez, as they hadn’t while at Texas Tech.

One prospect Texas will go all out for out-of-state is 6-foot-11 center Kel’el Ware (North Little Rock High). He was the first prospect Texas offered after Beard was hired. Beating out Arkansas for Ware is the task. Also expect Texas to make a run at Felix Okpara (Hamilton Heights/TN). The Longhorns were in his top 5 prior to Smart’s departure, but this is a prospect Texas will recruit as he is likely to ascend to the top 5 of the 2022 class rankings nationally with his elite ability on both ends of the floor at 6-foot-11.

We’ll have more on immediate roster building this week.

 

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(Gerry Hamilton) Texas hoops team/recruiting nuggets (Monday 3:29pm)

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Roster: The latest
The Texas staff is continuing to work on getting as many of the current players on the roster back for another season. That includes Matt Coleman and Jericho Sims. Both are considered long shots, but Texas is putting in effort.

IT is not ready to make any definitive statements on what the roster will look like next season. Way too many moving parts right now.

Transfer/portal: Targets
Goes without saying that F Micah Peavy is a target of Texas. The former state champion from Duncanville High was recruited by Beard to Texas Tech.

South Dakota G/W Stanley Umude (6-6, 210) is a transfer that Texas will tussle with Kansas, Arkansas, Arizona and Texas A&M for the talented scorer. Umude, who played in high school at San Antonio Warren, averaged 21.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists this season. He converted 47.1% from the field, 35.5% from three (39-110) and 79.9% from the free throw line.

IT has already mentioned three other top transfer/portal target possibilities in Georgia PF Toumani Camara(6-8, 220 from Belgium), Utah F Timmy Allen (6-6, 210 from Arizona) and Florida SG Noah Locke (6-3, 200 from Baltimore).

There is another player or two that is expected to jump into the portal that would have the full attention of the staff.

High school recruiting 2021 class:
Should Jaylon Tyson request his release from his LOI, it goes without saying Texas would covet one of the top shooters in the country in the 2021 class. The 6-foot-6 guard made over 200 three-pointer's his last two season of high school basketball at a 44% clip.

Texas is expected to take a look at PG Jaylen Blakes of Blair Academy (Royal Ivey's high school). Texas was in the top three for Blakes during the season, along with Illinois and DePaul. He has been wide open in the last few weeks with recent offers from Pittsburgh, VCU and Harvard.

2022 recruiting nugget:
Texas is expected to begin recruiting fast rising PF Cameron Corhen. The 6-foot-9.5 athletic big with improving face up skill is the son of former Georgia Bulldogs F Richard Corhen, and the Bulldogs have offered. Other recent offers include Florida, LSU, Arizona, SMU, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.

As far as the Longhorns go, Corhen had a quick response ... "I hope they reach out soon."

Corhen relayed to IT that he plans to make OV's this summer, and decide shortly after the OV process.
Until Texas has a clear of understanding of who is remaining in the program, it's difficult to project which transfers Texas will go all in on.

 

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(Gerry Hamilton) IT Presents: First edition of the 2022 basketball prospect rankings

Spoiler

While Chris Beard and staff are working non-stop to put together the best roster possible for the 2021-22 season, the work on the uber important 2022 recruiting class is well underway.

Like the 2022 class on the gridiron, the class of 2022 is absolutely loaded inside the state lines with a number of top ranked players nationally.

The guards are particularly star-studded in the class with Beard and staff beginning to zero in on targets.

1. Arterio Morris, PG, Dallas Kimball
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound point guard has so much of the “can’t teach that” talent. Morris has elite athleticism for his size, but is more than a difference maker athlete. He can shoot the ball from NBA range, has improved in the mid-range and can finish above the rim in traffic with the frame to take contact and play through contact. Extremely dangerous in the ball screen game. Can appear as more of a scoring PG, but he sees the floor well and makes plays for teammates. Competes on both ends. The one-time Memphis verbal has offers from the likes of Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, Texas Tech Oregon and UCLA.

2. Keyonte George, SG, iSchool Academy
Simply put, George was born to score the basketball. The 6-foot-4, 185-pounder can score at all three levels, and does so with ease. His ability to go get his own shot going left or right is a differentiator. He has the ability to scores from three levels going either way, and has NBA range. The control with which he plays under, while scoring the ball places him on another level. More of an offensive minded player at this stage. Texas has been in the top three for a while, and was joined by Texas Tech prior to Beard heading to Austin and Kentucky.

3. Cason Wallace, CG, Richardson High
In a loaded class, Wallace is the prospect that competes on both ends of the floor the best. While he has the task of running his team, and scoring the ball and creating for teammates, he also always defends the best guard of the opponent. He has a Royal Ivey type competitiveness about him. An improved perimeter game to go with the ability to make plays around the rim has Wallace continuing to ascend in a loaded class. The offer list includes Baylor, Arkansas, Auburn, Texas, Texas Tech prior to Beard leaving, Oklahoma State, Illinois and Creighton.

4. Bryce Griggs, PG, Hightower
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Griggs can score the ball, period. He does so without being an elite athlete, but instead with change of pace, feel for creating space, ability to finish in traffic playing through contact and is an elite shooter. Griggs not only can shoot it with ease from NBA range, but can also knock down the mid-range jumpers off the bounce going right or left. Texas, Baylor, Kansas, Memphis and Houston are among the many offers. The last guard in the Houston area T.J. Ford talked up like Griggs was Carson Edwards.

5. Anthony Black, CG, Coppell
Black has grown to nearly 6-foot-7, and is ascending on the court after now officially giving up football. Black is strong in transition, will attack the rim and finish with one-handed dunks, can handle the ball and is a willing defender that has the ability to guard multiple positions. Black has offers from the likes of Texas, Baylor, Illinois, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. His father played basketball at Baylor, and his mother played soccer at Texas and Baylor.

6. Cameron Corhen, PF, Plano John Paul II
The 6-foot-9.5 son of former Georgia forward Reggie Cohen is a fast riser and one that will move up the national rankings. His ability to quickly get off the floor and defend above the rim is welcomed by high majors. His offensive game is developing, with an emphasis on working on his face up game out to three-point range. Georgia, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma and Texas A&M are among the more than a dozen early offers.

7. Terrance Arceneaux, F, Beaumont United
The heroic state champion from undefeated Beaumont United will be another riser in the national rankings. At over 6-foot-6 with very long arms and a motor, Arceneaux impacts the game open both ends, which included nine blocked shots in the state championship game vs. Dallas Kimball. Arceneaux has shot 40% from three in each of his three seasons on varsity, and can put the ball on the deck, His mid-range game off the bounce has improved, and he can finish above the rim in the paint and in transition. Will have to cut down on the unforced turnovers at the next level. The early offer list includes Houston, LSU, Texas A&M and Oral Roberts.

8. Austin Nunez, PG, San Antonio Wagner
The 6-foot-2 point guard flashes sneaky athleticism to go with good pace and the ability to make open three’s. The lefty is a crafty finisher inside of 15-feet, including a soft touch floater in the paint. The top three in recent weeks and months has been Texas, Virginia and Arkansas.

9. Colin Smith, PF, Dallas St. Mark’s
Smith’s strength is simple — he can shoot the ball from three at a high level for his size. His ability to help stretch the floor in the college game will allow him to make up for lack of ideal athleticism. He’s comfortable with the ball and has a soft touch in the paint. Also converts free throws. Plays with a calmness about him. Continuing to develop defensively as a paint defender and traffic rebounder will be key at the next level.

10. Lee Dort, C, Greenhill School
Dort is highly ranked nationally, and presents a powerful body in the paint at 6-foot-9 with very good arm length. He possesses quick feet for his size with the ability to spin and pivot under control, and finish with two hands on the rim. To eventually play up to the very lofty national rankings, his post moves are going to have to develop along with his ability to play over both shoulders from 10-12 feet. Offer list includes Memphis, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Arizona, Kansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech.

11. Rylan Griffen, SG, Richardson High
6-5, 175
Offers: Arkansas, Baylor, Creighton, Auburn, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, SMU, Texas (prior staff), Texas Tech, Texas A&M

12. Zuby Ejiofor, PF, Garland High
6-8, 220
Offers: TCU, Houston, Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Texas (prior staff)

13. Jordan Walsh, SF, Waxahachie Faith Family
6-7, 185
Offers: Oklahoma State, California, Arkansas, Texas (prior staff), Texas A&M, Texas Tech

14. P.J. Haggerty, SG, Crosby High
6-2, 175
Offers: Houston, Arizona State, Florida State, Arizona, Rice, TCU

15. Ryan Agarwal, SF, Coppell High
6-7, 175
Commitment: Stanford

16. Noah Shelby, CG, Greenhill School
6-2, 175
Offers: Vanderbilt, Baylor, Memphis, Arizona State, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Auburn, Texas A&M

17. T.J. Caldwell, SG, Waxahachie Faith Academy
6-4, 175
Offers: Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Tulsa, SMU, TCU

18. Cade Hornecker, C, Amarillo High
6-11, 210
Offers: Creighton, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Oral Roberts, Wichita State, TCU

19. Brendan Hausen, SG, Amarillo High
6-4, 180
Offers: Houston, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Nevada, Rice, TCU, Texas A&M, Wichita State, Tulsa

20. Amaree Abram, CG, Summer Creek
6-3, 180
Offers: Oral Roberts, Louisiana Tech, Rice

21. Trae Clayton, SF, iSchool Academy
6-5, 180
Offers: Nebraska, Mississippi State, Tulsa, Texas A&M, TCU, SMU

22. Cruz Davis, PG, iSchool Academy
6-3, 165
Commitment: Oregon State

23. Shawn Jones, F, Shadow Creek
6-5, 185
Offers: Houston, LSU, Tulsa, TCU, Rice

24. Charles Chukwu, PF/C, Katy Paetow
6-8, 250
Offers: Georgia Tech, Iona, TCU, Rice, Texas A&M, Tulsa, UTEP

25. Jason Thirdkill, SF, Texas Alliance of Christian Athletes
6-7, 175
Offers: DePaul, TCU, Texas A&M, East Carolina

 

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1 hour ago, texifornia said:

In the basketball forum, the Tech posters seem to be thinking Tyson is going to stick since Tech hired Adams.

Damn. Adam’s was probably the guy they could hire that would hinder our roster building the most this year.
 

Tyson would’ve been a nice add especially since we’re losing most of Shaka’s commits, and it would’ve been nice to grab some transfers from them too since Shaka did the equivalent of lighting a shot on fire on our doorstep with the roster for this year. It’ll be interesting to see who Beard can get from the portal this year. Hopefully he can do something similar to Muss at Arky by bringing in a good mix of recruits and transfers to get us competitive quickly while also building for the long term. 

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2 minutes ago, Burt Macklin said:

Damn. Adam’s was probably the guy they could hire that would hinder our roster building the most this year.
 

Tyson would’ve been a nice add especially since we’re losing most of Shaka’s commits, and it would’ve been nice to grab some transfers from them too since Shaka did the equivalent of lighting a shot on fire on our doorstep with the roster for this year. It’ll be interesting to see who Beard can get from the portal this year. Hopefully he can do something similar to Muss at Arky by bringing in a good mix of recruits and transfers to get us competitive quickly while also building for the long term. 

They don't taste thaaaat bad. Hell of a hangover, though.

https://www.thespruceeats.com/flaming-dr-pepper-shooter-recipe-760520

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Just now, texifornia said:

 

It’ll be really interesting to see how Beard tries to balance 1 and dones with 3-4 year guys and transfers. He definitely went after some 1 and done types at Tech, but I’m not sure how well those guys will fit his style. Some coaches have struggled at UT because they lose their identity and start to star chase. I don’t think Beard will fall into that, but I wonder if he changes his philosophy a bit to fit more of the elite guys he can now get. 

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Hamilton

Spoiler

Top in-state targets in 2022:
The Longhorns have some difficult decisions to make on which players they will go all in on with the in-state class being absolutely loaded at guard and wing.

IT believes the Longhorns will go all in on SG Keyonte George (iSchool Academy), CG Cason Wallace (Richardson High) and PG Bryce Griggs (Hightower High) to start. PG Arterio Morris is a wildcard, but Texas can’t say no if he were to raise his hand. Texas is working from a position of strength with George and Griggs.

Prospect IT believes Texas will recruit heavily inside the state line includes CG Anthony Black (Coppell High), F Terrance Arceneaux (Beaumont United) and PF Cameron Corhen (Plano John Paul II).

CG Noah Shelby (Greenhill School) is another that IT believes the staff will recruit, as shooters with quickness will be a key target.

 

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19 hours ago, Machinator said:

(Gerry Hamilton) Texas hoops team/recruiting nuggets (Monday 3:29pm)

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South Dakota G/W Stanley Umude (6-6, 210) is a transfer that Texas will tussle with Kansas, Arkansas, Arizona and Texas A&M for the talented scorer. Umude, who played in high school at San Antonio Warren, averaged 21.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists this season. He converted 47.1% from the field, 35.5% from three (39-110) and 79.9% from the free throw line.

 

 

I used to play travel ball with Umude and we still keep up a bit. Dude is super talented. As a sophomore he had 28 on Kansas and has consistently put up big numbers. He can definitely score at the P5 level. Would love to see him here to get a better look for his future than South Dakota

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6 minutes ago, Machinator said:

Hamilton

  Reveal hidden contents

Top in-state targets in 2022:
The Longhorns have some difficult decisions to make on which players they will go all in on with the in-state class being absolutely loaded at guard and wing.

IT believes the Longhorns will go all in on SG Keyonte George (iSchool Academy), CG Cason Wallace (Richardson High) and PG Bryce Griggs (Hightower High) to start. PG Arterio Morris is a wildcard, but Texas can’t say no if he were to raise his hand. Texas is working from a position of strength with George and Griggs.

Prospect IT believes Texas will recruit heavily inside the state line includes CG Anthony Black (Coppell High), F Terrance Arceneaux (Beaumont United) and PF Cameron Corhen (Plano John Paul II).

CG Noah Shelby (Greenhill School) is another that IT believes the staff will recruit, as shooters with quickness will be a key target.

 

Gerry has to be in heaven with deciding to join IT now that we've made our hire, he is the best basketball mind who reports free/995 content for us and it's not close.

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4 hours ago, Goodman said:

Gerry has to be in heaven with deciding to join IT now that we've made our hire, he is the best basketball mind who reports free/995 content for us and it's not close.

He’s the best, no doubt. 

That considered, heaven maaaaaaaayyyyyy involve being able to run down the program for not throwing $10million at John Calipari and that maaaaaayyyyy find its way into the notion that there’s “an undercurrent of concern about the way things were handled by Beard on his way out at Tech among recruits” and then I maaaaayyyyy laugh pretty fucking hard that that is either real or relevant. 

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  • Machinator changed the title to Texas Basketball Recruiting Notes: Keep Austin Beard

I don’t follow cbb coaching as closely as CFB, so I’m relatively unaware of these guys prior to their hire.
It appears to be unfolding exactly as has been reported. They’re going to go hard at recruiting the state. It will really kick ass to have a roster of highly rated Texas kids; at least we’re throwing a lot of resources at the attempt.

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52 minutes ago, Ricky's one-hitter said:

I don’t follow cbb coaching as closely as CFB, so I’m relatively unaware of these guys prior to their hire.
It appears to be unfolding exactly as has been reported. They’re going to go hard at recruiting the state. It will really kick ass to have a roster of highly rated Texas kids; at least we’re throwing a lot of resources at the attempt.

We bout to fuck these bitches up

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23 hours ago, Machinator said:

(Gerry Hamilton) IT Presents: First edition of the 2022 basketball prospect rankings

  Hide contents

While Chris Beard and staff are working non-stop to put together the best roster possible for the 2021-22 season, the work on the uber important 2022 recruiting class is well underway.

Like the 2022 class on the gridiron, the class of 2022 is absolutely loaded inside the state lines with a number of top ranked players nationally.

The guards are particularly star-studded in the class with Beard and staff beginning to zero in on targets.

1. Arterio Morris, PG, Dallas Kimball
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound point guard has so much of the “can’t teach that” talent. Morris has elite athleticism for his size, but is more than a difference maker athlete. He can shoot the ball from NBA range, has improved in the mid-range and can finish above the rim in traffic with the frame to take contact and play through contact. Extremely dangerous in the ball screen game. Can appear as more of a scoring PG, but he sees the floor well and makes plays for teammates. Competes on both ends. The one-time Memphis verbal has offers from the likes of Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, Texas Tech Oregon and UCLA.

2. Keyonte George, SG, iSchool Academy
Simply put, George was born to score the basketball. The 6-foot-4, 185-pounder can score at all three levels, and does so with ease. His ability to go get his own shot going left or right is a differentiator. He has the ability to scores from three levels going either way, and has NBA range. The control with which he plays under, while scoring the ball places him on another level. More of an offensive minded player at this stage. Texas has been in the top three for a while, and was joined by Texas Tech prior to Beard heading to Austin and Kentucky.

3. Cason Wallace, CG, Richardson High
In a loaded class, Wallace is the prospect that competes on both ends of the floor the best. While he has the task of running his team, and scoring the ball and creating for teammates, he also always defends the best guard of the opponent. He has a Royal Ivey type competitiveness about him. An improved perimeter game to go with the ability to make plays around the rim has Wallace continuing to ascend in a loaded class. The offer list includes Baylor, Arkansas, Auburn, Texas, Texas Tech prior to Beard leaving, Oklahoma State, Illinois and Creighton.

4. Bryce Griggs, PG, Hightower
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Griggs can score the ball, period. He does so without being an elite athlete, but instead with change of pace, feel for creating space, ability to finish in traffic playing through contact and is an elite shooter. Griggs not only can shoot it with ease from NBA range, but can also knock down the mid-range jumpers off the bounce going right or left. Texas, Baylor, Kansas, Memphis and Houston are among the many offers. The last guard in the Houston area T.J. Ford talked up like Griggs was Carson Edwards.

5. Anthony Black, CG, Coppell
Black has grown to nearly 6-foot-7, and is ascending on the court after now officially giving up football. Black is strong in transition, will attack the rim and finish with one-handed dunks, can handle the ball and is a willing defender that has the ability to guard multiple positions. Black has offers from the likes of Texas, Baylor, Illinois, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. His father played basketball at Baylor, and his mother played soccer at Texas and Baylor.

6. Cameron Corhen, PF, Plano John Paul II
The 6-foot-9.5 son of former Georgia forward Reggie Cohen is a fast riser and one that will move up the national rankings. His ability to quickly get off the floor and defend above the rim is welcomed by high majors. His offensive game is developing, with an emphasis on working on his face up game out to three-point range. Georgia, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma and Texas A&M are among the more than a dozen early offers.

7. Terrance Arceneaux, F, Beaumont United
The heroic state champion from undefeated Beaumont United will be another riser in the national rankings. At over 6-foot-6 with very long arms and a motor, Arceneaux impacts the game open both ends, which included nine blocked shots in the state championship game vs. Dallas Kimball. Arceneaux has shot 40% from three in each of his three seasons on varsity, and can put the ball on the deck, His mid-range game off the bounce has improved, and he can finish above the rim in the paint and in transition. Will have to cut down on the unforced turnovers at the next level. The early offer list includes Houston, LSU, Texas A&M and Oral Roberts.

8. Austin Nunez, PG, San Antonio Wagner
The 6-foot-2 point guard flashes sneaky athleticism to go with good pace and the ability to make open three’s. The lefty is a crafty finisher inside of 15-feet, including a soft touch floater in the paint. The top three in recent weeks and months has been Texas, Virginia and Arkansas.

9. Colin Smith, PF, Dallas St. Mark’s
Smith’s strength is simple — he can shoot the ball from three at a high level for his size. His ability to help stretch the floor in the college game will allow him to make up for lack of ideal athleticism. He’s comfortable with the ball and has a soft touch in the paint. Also converts free throws. Plays with a calmness about him. Continuing to develop defensively as a paint defender and traffic rebounder will be key at the next level.

10. Lee Dort, C, Greenhill School
Dort is highly ranked nationally, and presents a powerful body in the paint at 6-foot-9 with very good arm length. He possesses quick feet for his size with the ability to spin and pivot under control, and finish with two hands on the rim. To eventually play up to the very lofty national rankings, his post moves are going to have to develop along with his ability to play over both shoulders from 10-12 feet. Offer list includes Memphis, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Arizona, Kansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech.

11. Rylan Griffen, SG, Richardson High
6-5, 175
Offers: Arkansas, Baylor, Creighton, Auburn, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, SMU, Texas (prior staff), Texas Tech, Texas A&M

12. Zuby Ejiofor, PF, Garland High
6-8, 220
Offers: TCU, Houston, Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Texas (prior staff)

13. Jordan Walsh, SF, Waxahachie Faith Family
6-7, 185
Offers: Oklahoma State, California, Arkansas, Texas (prior staff), Texas A&M, Texas Tech

14. P.J. Haggerty, SG, Crosby High
6-2, 175
Offers: Houston, Arizona State, Florida State, Arizona, Rice, TCU

15. Ryan Agarwal, SF, Coppell High
6-7, 175
Commitment: Stanford

16. Noah Shelby, CG, Greenhill School
6-2, 175
Offers: Vanderbilt, Baylor, Memphis, Arizona State, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Auburn, Texas A&M

17. T.J. Caldwell, SG, Waxahachie Faith Academy
6-4, 175
Offers: Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Tulsa, SMU, TCU

18. Cade Hornecker, C, Amarillo High
6-11, 210
Offers: Creighton, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Oral Roberts, Wichita State, TCU

19. Brendan Hausen, SG, Amarillo High
6-4, 180
Offers: Houston, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Nevada, Rice, TCU, Texas A&M, Wichita State, Tulsa

20. Amaree Abram, CG, Summer Creek
6-3, 180
Offers: Oral Roberts, Louisiana Tech, Rice

21. Trae Clayton, SF, iSchool Academy
6-5, 180
Offers: Nebraska, Mississippi State, Tulsa, Texas A&M, TCU, SMU

22. Cruz Davis, PG, iSchool Academy
6-3, 165
Commitment: Oregon State

23. Shawn Jones, F, Shadow Creek
6-5, 185
Offers: Houston, LSU, Tulsa, TCU, Rice

24. Charles Chukwu, PF/C, Katy Paetow
6-8, 250
Offers: Georgia Tech, Iona, TCU, Rice, Texas A&M, Tulsa, UTEP

25. Jason Thirdkill, SF, Texas Alliance of Christian Athletes
6-7, 175
Offers: DePaul, TCU, Texas A&M, East Carolina

 

 Arterio Morris is my favorite recruit in that star studded 2022 guard class. He has the potential to be an absolute star in the Ja Morant mold. 

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BRANDON JENKINS:  Which 2022 prospects can Chris Beard and his new staff land at Texas?

 

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Which 2022 prospects can Chris Beard and his new staff land at Texas?
BRANDON JENKINS

 

Texas has always been a program where the top in-state talent has always wanted to play. However, the coaching staffs of the past decade have always seemed to struggle with being able to secure what is in their region. Now that Chris Beard is at the helm, and has the help of lethal recruiters in Jerrance Howard and Ulric Maligi, I breakdown the top 2022 prospects the Horns will have a legitimate shot at getting:

KEYONTE GEORGE
National Ranking: No. 10 overall in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings

Player Comparison: D'Angelo Russell

Scouting Report: Keyonte George is a smooth scoring guard who shows a high level of dedication to the game and looks to play the game the right way. He can knock down jumpers from all three ranges on the floor. His in-between game is potent as he has the knack of getting to his spots to get his shot off. He uses his handle to wiggle his way into his pullup and has the explosiveness to make plays in a crowd. His game is built upon skill and length more than elite quickness. George's assertiveness is always in question due to his nonchalant demeanor on the floor. His effort on defense could improve but he definitely is capable of becoming a solid defender because of the length and lateral mobility he possesses. George's talent and skill level is undeniable. He has a high ceiling and given the spacing on the floor, he will have a shot at being very productive at the highest level of the sport.

Competition: Texas is looked upon as the clear cut favorite if George decides to attend college. The G-League route will be the biggest competition for the Horns.

 

ARTERIO MORRIS
National Ranking: No. 28 in the 247Sports Top 150

Player Comparison: Ja Morant

Scouting Report: Arterio Morris is a point guard prospect with a high floor and an extremely high ceiling. He has an outstanding frame with very long arms and is a plus athlete. He has pop to his game, and is elusive with his handle when breaking down defenders. His short area quickness coupled with his handle grants him the ability to get where ever he pleases in the half and quarter-court game. He is at his best when playing downhill where he is an instinctual player who looks to force the action as often as possible. Thanks to his length, quickness, and size, Morris can also be leaned upon as a multi-positional defender. As he polishes his overall game; mainly his jumper and decision making, he could potentially take off and be mentioned in the conversation for the best lead guard in the class.

Competition: In order to receive a commitment from Morris, the Horns will have to battle with LSU, Memphis, and whatever professional opportunities may come his way.

 

KEL'EL WARE
National Ranking: No. 32 in the 247Sports Top 150

Scouting Report: Kel'el Ware oozes with natural talent and elite upside. He has great size and length plus some complimenting skill as he shows great hands with nice touch out to 20 feet. He is fluid for a player his size and runs the floor with a smooth gait. Ware is a long way from being a finished product but has the raw tools, potential, and touch to be a serious problem on both ends of the floor. His production will increase once he gains comfort in playing through physicality.

Competition: Arkansas should be the main competitor in this one.

 

ANTHONY BLACK
National Ranking: No. 62 overall in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings

Player Comparison: Marcus Garrett

Scouting Report: A former dual-sport athlete (three-star wide receiver), Anthony Black is a big playmaking guard who is excellent in transition and can play and guard all three perimeter positions. He is smart with his decision making and has a great understanding of how to play. He can play with the ball in his hands is a very reliable decision maker. Black is very disruptive on the defensive end with quick and active hands and alert instincts. He provides length, elite athletic ability, and the game comes natural to him on the offensive end of the floor. An average shooter, Black could use some improvement on the consistency of his deep ball. But he is a versatile talent with great long-term tools who is only just beginning to tap into his upside.

Competition: Texas is the leader here but Illinois and Oklahoma State are the two other schools that are in the mix.

... NOTES ON THE REST OF THE REGIONAL RECRUITS
 

Cason Wallace
... Cason Wallace said in February that Arkansas and Baylor are recruiting him the hardest. Texas will look to make up ground but it would not surprise me if Kentucky comes in and shakes things up.

... A high school teamate of Wallace, Rylan Griffen was contacted by Beard this weekend and although the Horns are actively recruiting Griffen, the three guards mentioned above seem to be the first priority. Once a favorite to commit to Oklahoma, Griffen is currently open in his recruitment now that Lon Kruger has retired.

... Nick Smith recently announced that Texas will replace Texas Tech in his top ten list. Although, the Horns are not likely to be a contender here as Arkansas and Kentucky are in the real race.

... Jordan Walsh included Beard and Texas on the top ten list he announced last month. However, Walsh said Arkansas and TCU are the most active in his recruitment.

 

 

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Nick Harris

Spoiler

I was also able to catch up with El Paso Chapin five-star shooting guard KJ Lewis on Wednesday morning as he continues his rise up the 2023 rankings. Currently the No. 21 recruit in the country for the class of 2023, Lewis is hearing from just about every major program you can name and he has his eyes set on some high-major programs such as Kansas, Kentucky and Arizona, but expect Texas to be in this race because of his connection with new assistant coach Rodney Terry. Terry was the first to offer KJ Lewis when he was at UTEP and he remains one of the closest coaches to Lewis in his recruitment. Expect Texas to pick up where Terry left off and go all-in after the talented shooting guard.

 

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(Gerry Hamilton) IT Hoops: Recruiting Extravaganza

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Chris Beard has hired arguably the top recruiting staff in college basketball in Chris Ogden, Rodney Terry, Jerrance Howard and Ulric Maligi.

With the star-studded staff complete, the work in Austin has begun on putting together the best 2021-22 roster possible.

The latest on Tamar Bates:
The Texas staff has spoken with IMG Academy SG Tamar Bates more than once this week. At this point, it remains a long shot that any of the 2021 class signees end up in Austin, but the staff is giving it their best shot on Bates.

Jerrance Howard will also now put in some work on Bates to see if the Longhorns can keep him in the fold. Howard was part of the Jayhawks’ recruitment of Bates prior to the 6-foot-4 silky smooth guard signing with Texas.

Bates told IT Tuesday night that he and his family are beginning the Zoom call process this week with plans to speak with Pittsburgh, Marquette, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Oregon in addition to Texas.

Texas making a run at former Creighton commit:
Jerrance Howard was recruiting TyTy Washington (Compass Prep, AZ) at Kansas before heading to Austin, and on Wednesday the Texas staff had a Zoom call with the 6-3, 185-pound point guard.

Arizona, UCLA, Oregon, Oklahoma State and Kansas are also in the hunt for the top 50 prospect in the 2021 class.

Transfer names to know:
PG Xavier Pinson (Missouri)
6-2, 170
The former Chicago Simeon star leaves Missouri after three seasons with over 900 total points. This past season, Pinson averaged 13.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. He converted 38.6% FG’s, 33.6% from three (43-128) and 83.7% FT’s.

*Pinson had released a final four of Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia and Nebraska … but Texas is now in this one.

CG Devin Askew (Kentucky)
6-3, 195
The former Mater Dei star via Sacramento will make a move closer towards the west, but will he go all the way back to Cali? The top 35 prospect in the 2021 class played 29 minutes as a freshman averaging 6.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, converting 34.5% from the field, 27.8% from three (15-54) and 80.6% from the foul line.

G/W Stanley Umude (South Dakota)
The 6-foot-6 scorer put over 1,500 points in the books over four seasons. His 2020-21 season included 21.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, plus 47.1% FG’s, 35.5% from three (39-110) and 79.9% FT’s.

*Texas reached out to Umude, a former San Antonio Warren guard, the first day Beard was hired. Kansas was considered the front runner earlier in the week, and Umude was being courted to Lawrence by Jerrance Howard.

F Micah Peavy (Texas Tech)
The 6-foot-7, 215-pound former Duncanville star played a key role for Chris Beard as a freshman in Lubbock. The son of Duncanville head coach David Peavy averaged 5.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 29 games, including 25 starts. He converted 45.9% of his shots from the field and 47.4% from the foul line.

F Timmy Allen (Utah)
The former Red Mountain (AZ) standout exits Utah after scoring more than 1,600 points in three seasons, including two straight seasons with over 17 points per game. In 2020-21, the 6-foot-6, 200-pounder converted 46.5% of his shots from the field, 26.8% from three (11-41) and 76.9% from the free throw line.

PF Tanner Groves and F Jacob Groves (Eastern Washington)
The 6-foot-9 Tanner Groves was the Big Sky Conference MVP in 2020-21 after averaging 17.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. The Spokane, Wash. native converted 56% from the field, 34.9% from three (22-63) and 77.8% from the foul line.

Jacob Groves, 6-foot-8, just completed his sophomore season at Eastern Washington with season averages of 9.3 points and 4.2 rebounds. He shot 55.2% from the field, 36.4% from three (16-44) and 75.7% on freebies.

Texas staff also working on current players:
The Texas staff has been having Zoom calls and meeting with players and parents this week. That includes Matt Coleman, Jericho Sims, Courtney Ramey, Andrew Jones and Greg Brown.

Brock Cunningham and Jase Febres are expected back.

Look ahead to the 2022 class:

Texas is all over SG Keyonte George, CG Cason Wallace, PG Arterio Morris and PG Bryce Griggs. Texas has been in a good position for George for a few months.

CG Anthony Black, F Terrance Arceneaux and PF Cameron Corhen also have the staff’s attention.

 

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1 hour ago, Machinator said:

(Gerry Hamilton) IT Hoops: Recruiting Extravaganza

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Texas staff also working on current players:
The Texas staff has been having Zoom calls and meeting with players and parents this week. That includes Matt Coleman, Jericho Sims, Courtney Ramey, Andrew Jones and Greg Brown.

Brock Cunningham and Jase Febres are expected back.

 

Question about "playing the game." Does it include throwing a little love at current players that don't have NBA futures?

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