After being praised as one of the best players on the roster, and someone that Chris Beard though he would build around, point guard Devin Askew transferred after just one season in Austin.
Askew didn’t quite have the impact or opportunity that he may have thought he would have at Texas, as he saw his minutes per game go down from 28.9 at Kentucky to just 14.9 at Texas. His numbers also took a hit, as he averaged just just 2.1 points and 1.3 assists in 34 games.
Coming out of high school he was highly regarded for his ball handling, and the ability to score from all three levels, but the scoring ability has to translate to the college level. He did flash some defensive ability at Texas, but seemed timid on offense.
Another thing likely impacting this decision was the fact that Texas is going to have a crowded backcourt as they are bringing in two guards in the 2022 class in five-star Arterio Morris and four-star Rowan Brumbaugh, along with the return of Marcus Carr.
However, he will have a prime chance at Cal to be the primary ball handler and scorer, as they will be losing their leading scorer and point guard Jordan Sheppard.
It was reported by 247Sports that he must file for a waiver in order to play right away, as he already took advantage of the one-time transfer rule.
Askew’s departure opens the door for incoming freshmen Arterio Morris and Rowan Brumbaugh to compete for early playing time.
Second-year guard Devin Askew will enter the NCAA transfer portal after just one season with the Texas program.
This marks Askew’s second time in the transfer portal in his young career. He spent one year at Kentucky before joining Chris Beard in Austin.
Askew averaged just over two points and one rebound per game while playing 15 minutes a game with the Longhorns. He provided excellent on-ball defense and strong passing ability.
The former five-star should draw lots of interest from schools around the country. Askew has built experience at two premier programs and will have three years of eligibility at his next destination.
Askew’s departure opens the door for incoming freshmen Arterio Morris and Rowan Brumbaugh to compete for early playing time. Senior guard Marcus Carr is still weighing his options and is considering coming back next season.
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Gonzaga cruises by Texas behind 37 points from Timme.
Top-ranked Gonzaga was too much for No. 5 Texas. The Zags controlled the game from the start taking down the Horns 86-74.
Texas is now 0-12 all-time versus No. 1 teams. Gonzaga has not lost a home game since 2018.
The Texas frontcourt had no answer for star forward Drew Timme. Timme scored 37 points on 15 of 19 shooting. The Texas natives 37 points was his career-high.
For this team to reach their lofty preseason expectations, the frontcourt has to play better.
Timmy Allen played well for Texas as he paced the Horns with 18 points and six rebounds.
Kentucky transfer Devin Askew was another bright spot for the Longhorns. Askew showed off his toughness and ability to get to the basket late in the game, providing a bit of a late spark.
Chris Beard does not see this loss as the end of the world.
Chris Beard: "We felt a great responsibility to play a good game tonight. It wasn’t for lack of effort, our guys were dialed in. It’s a hurt locker room right now. But we’ll be back, I promise you that. We’ll be back."
The Texas basketball program went from being down in the dumps with expectations of a rebuild, to now being projected by college basketball experts to contend for a championship in just the first year of the Chris Bead tenure.
After losing a total of seven players, four to the NBA draft and three to the transfer portal, Beard had to work fast to construct a roster that would allow Texas to compete in the Big 12 for the upcoming season. While there were expectations that he would attract some transfers, it is safe to say that no one expected the slew of elite transfers that Beard brought in would form a juggernaut.
According to ESPN’S rankings of college basketball transfers, the Longhorns brought in three of the top five and six of the top 31 transfers. It’s a class filled with elite players and depth that should have Texas contending for the title with the likes of Gonzaga and UCLA.
Let’s take a look to see where the six transfers ranked according to ESPN.
The Longhorns are going to look much different in 2021.
Texas’ basketball program was in utter turmoil after their third consecutive opening round loss in the NCAA Tournament. The shocking loss to Abilene Christian last March saw the end of the Shaka Smart era in which literally nothing besides a meaningless Big 12 Championship was accomplished.
Smart was unable to replicate the success he once had while at VCU. However, there is a new coach in charge for Texas now in Chris Beard. The first-year head coach wasted no time attracting legit talent to Austin via the transfer portal. While at Texas Tech, Beard led the Red Raiders to a National Championship game appearance (2019) and Elite Eight appearance (2018), both of which were the first time in school history.
Beard and the Longhorns are now done constructing the roster, and it is safe to say the starting five can be predicted. The only difference that has shaken up the roster is transfer Marcus Carr joining the squad, as a player of his caliber will find himself starting right away.
While there are a few players from last season that will see more significant playing time with the likes of Brock Cunningham and Jase Febres, it is unlikely that they find their way into the starting rotation. However, Beard was using up to nine players during the tournament, so the more depth pieces the better.
Let’s take a look who I believe could be the sixth man and starting five for Chris Beard in 2021. Obviously this is opinion based and arguments are welcomed.
Chris Beard has dipped into the transfer portal for the first time. According to 247Sports, UK guard Devin Askew will be transferring to UT.
Chris Beard has dipped into the transfer portal for the first time as the head coach of Texas.
According to Travis Branham of 247Sports, Kentucky guard Devin Askew will be transferring to Texas. The former Mater Dei High School product originally announced his return to Kentucky but entered the transfer portal on April 5.
Askew averaged 6.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game as a freshman. He struggled shooting the ball, especially from deep, only converting 27.8% of his threes.
The guard should have been a high school senior, reclassifying from the 2020 class to 2021. Beard will have a young player with a ton of potential on his hands.
Askew has four years of eligibility remaining.
Kentucky transfer Devin Askew has committed to Texas, he tells @247Sports.
Before reclassifying, ESPN ranked Askew as the No. 1 point guard in the country. After the switch to the 2020 class, he was the No. 32 overall player and No. 7 point guard on the 247Sports composite. Within the state of California, he was the No. 7 player.
Texas’ roster is beginning to take shape, especially at the guard position. Andrew Jones announced he would be returning just minutes after Askew committed to Texas. Decisions from Matt Coleman and Courtney Ramey are still pending.
Beard added former Texas Tech signee Jaylon Tyson, who will feature at both guard and forward for the Longhorns. If one of Coleman or Ramey comes back, plus the possibility of Greg Brown and Jericho Sims, Texas could continue where it left off in the Big 12 last season.
Many believe the NBA Draft will feature a stronger prospect pool in 2021 than what the 2020 class will offer. But it may get even deeper.
Many believe the NBA Draft will feature a stronger prospect pool in 2021 than what the 2020 class will offer. But it may get even deeper.
Our mock draft for 2021 featured blurbs on several high school juniors who have already reclassified to forego their senior seasons, including Terrence Clarke (Kentucky), Devin Askew (Kentucky) and JT Thor (uncommitted). Another high school junior who narrowly missed the cut was Cam Hayes, who committed to North Carolina State.
However, we believe that the topic of reclassification will become even more pressing in the coming few weeks and months. Perhaps one reason why high school juniors may want to join a class that is already loaded is the following year could become even more crowded.
It is fairly well known that the NBA may allow high school seniors to enter the draft in 2022 for the first time since Amir Johnson was selected in 2005. That means that the draft class will feature all of the usual college prospects as well as an influx of high school talent as well.
There would be an incentive, then, for top high school juniors to find a way to separate themselves by potentially showcasing what they are capable of when playing against NCAA talent. Scouts and executives are more familiar with evaluating college basketball players than high schoolers.
As such, here is what you need to know about the high school stars that are most rumored to join the ranks of the Class of 2020 and then potentially be eligible to be selected in the 2021 NBA Draft.
JONATHAN KUMINGA
Forward, 6-foot-8, The Patrick School (New Jersey)
Background: Jonathan Kuminga is considered, nearly unanimously, the best high school junior in the country. He averaged 20.8 points per game on the Nike EYBL Division B circuit in 2019, showing his prolific scoring ability. Kuminga also had the second-most points per game (27.4) among all players in the Peach Jam Tournament last year. As recently noted by SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell, the forward could be a top-five pick in the 2021 NBA Draft if he chooses to reclassify. He will participate at the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp during All-Star Weekend in Chicago.
NCAA: Back in October, the top prospect announced that he was not going to reclassify. However, that has not quieted any of the speculations that he will forego his senior season and play college basketball next season. He narrowed his collegiate decision to ten schools in November 2019. Kuminga also had an official visit from Kentucky head coach John Calipari in January. Corey Evans of Rivals believes Duke could add Kuminga via reclassification to their Class of 2020. Evans has called his recruitment “fluid” so though the talk of him reclassifying was once silenced, it could easily change.
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, there may be some swaps of picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, which is considered to be a strong class.
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, there may be some swaps of picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, which is considered to be a strong class.
Now that the rosters for the McDonald’s All-American Game have been announced and the Hoophall Classic is complete, top prospects are emerging as future stars in the league.
This list does not include any of the top international prospects who will likely be selected in 2020 like Killian Hayes and Theo Maledon. It also does not mention any of the top returning players in the nation as it will be unclear who will opt to play in the NBA and it is still tough to predict at this point.
Instead, it offers an introduction to the current high school seniors and the international
All statistics are updated through February 3, 2020 and are pulled from D1Circuit.com, MaxPreps and RealGM unless stated otherwise.
1. Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State (Committed)
Catalina Fragoso-USA TODAY Sports
Guard, 6-foot-7, 18 years old, Montverde Academy (Florida)
Cade Cunningham is currently the anchor for Montverde Academy, which is being called the best high school team of all-time. They are currently ranked as the top school in the nation. The point forward is so good that an NBA scout recently told Yahoo’s Krysten Peek he would likely be the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft if he were eligible. That indicates he might already be the best player who is not currently in the league. For proof: Cunningham averaged 18.0 points and 8.5 assists per 36 minutes at the U19 World Cup, trailing just one player for total assists (40) during the tournament. With his size and his playmaking ability, he is already showing flashes of becoming a future franchise cornerstone.
2. Jalen Green, Uncommitted
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Guard, 6-foot-5, 17 years old, Prolific Prep (California)
Jalen Green is an incredibly explosive athlete who has improved as a shooter over the past few years as well. The scorer has become a more consistent and reliable option on the floor, offering an attacking mentality that will continue to develop as his competition continues. One of his crowning achievements thus far: He took home tournament MVP during the U17 World Cup in 2018, leading the United States to the gold medal behind 15.7 points per game. He averaged 7.7 three-pointers per 40 minutes during this competition, showing he is a fearless shooter. His natural stroke from the free-throw line shows that his three-point percentage will likely increase within time, too.
3. Evan Mobley, USC (Committed)
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Big, 7-foot-0, 18 years old, Rancho Christian (California)
Evan Mobley was 2019’s Gatorade Player of the Year in California and came into the summer as the highest-rated player on RSCI, which compiles all of the rankings on recruiting sites like 247 Sports and Rivals. The versatile big brags a 7-foot-5 wingspan with a 40-inch vertical leap, a rare measurement combination. He has recently been listed as a small forward, however, which Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo says “points to the dissonance” between his current identity and the best eventual fit in the NBA for someone his size. Still, there is arguably more to like about Mobley’s potential than that of 2020 projected lottery big man James Wiseman.
4. Scottie Barnes, Florida State (Committed)
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Forward, 6-foot-8, 18 years old, Montverde Academy (Florida)
Scottie Barnes currently plays alongside Cunningham at Montverde Academy and has a lot to offer as he continues to develop. He is a stat-sheet stuffer capable of putting up impressive lines for points and rebounds as well as assists. Like Cunningham, he has a point-forward mentality which is elevated by the fact that he is also measured with an incredible 9-foot-1 standing reach. Barnes can be a plug-and-play option for almost any team on both offense and defense in the NCAA and eventually in the NBA. That was an especially attractive trait for him for Team USA in the U19 World Cup, where he was a strong facilitator from the elbow. He assisted on 16.8 percent of scores for his team when he was on the floor despite never acting as his offense’s primary playmaker.
5. Ziaire Williams, Uncommitted
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Wing, 6-foot-8, 18 years old, Sierra Canyon (California)
Ziaire Williams is currently playing high school basketball at the high-profile Sierra Canyon. While he had to sit out the first few months of his senior year because of transfer rules, he has been a force to be reckoned with already. But that was no surprise for those who have followed the prospect. Williams led his AAU team (which also briefly included the aforementioned 2021 projected lottery pick Jalen Green) in points as well as rebounds and assists per game on the U17 circuit. The prospect has shown he is an above-average finisher near the rim, which will be important as he continues his growth. The Stepien’s Ross Homan also believes Williams can become the best shooter in this class. It will be fascinating to monitor his collegiate decision as he is the highest-rated recruit without an NCAA commitment yet.
“One of my first big dunks.”
With a thunderous slam over a five-star forward, Devin Askew showed off his new athleticism.
Devin Askew got the pass on a fast break, sized up five-star, 6-foot-9 forward Dylan Anderson, and rose up.
He flushed it down.
It’s a new Devin Askew. He’s always had athleticism, but this dunking prowess is not something the nation is accustomed to from the Chosen 25 point guard, listed at 6-foot-3.
“I could rim graze,” he said.
He’s no longer that player at the rim.
“One of the things that I was told when I went to the Nike Skills Academy … just get my athleticism up,” Askew said. “Start finishing better around the rim, and I’ve been doing that.”
With PJF Performance, he started working on techniques to help his jump and build up his fast-twitch reactions in his legs. Now bouncier, more athletic and able to better move laterally and toward the rim, Askew’s game is expanding.
“Layups and shooting, that was a lot of my game. Similar to how I play now, I just wasn’t as athletic,” he said.
At Hoophall West on Saturday, Askew led No. 14 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) to a win over Perry (Gilbert, Arizona). His most impressive play was the dunk over Anderson, another five-star player.
“One of my first big dunks,” Askew said with a smile.
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After reclassifying and signing with Kentucky, Askew has one last season of high school basketball to get some more big dunks in before going to the NCAA.
The Wildcats program is good at helping players achieve their goals, Askew said — and he has lofty aspirations.
“I want to be an NBA point guard. I want to play in front of thousands of people and lead an NBA team,” he said.
Askew is already a good shooter and a crafty ball handler. He has good timing with his passes as he controls the flow of the game. There were a couple times Saturday it looked like his dribble moves got him room in a lane, but he elected to pass. As Askew continues to get more athletic and experiment with his abilities, he should become more confident at driving into tighter spaces and finishing.
Based on one of his takeaways from his Kentucky visit, he won’t get content with just a couple big dunks.
“Seeing all the players, how they work in the gym, that’s what I like the most. That’s what I find fun, working hard in the gym,” Askew said.
