Tag: Texas basketball recruiting

Texas Basketball Recruiting: Longhorns sign their first recruit of 2021 class

The Texas Longhorns men’s basketball team inked the first recruit of the 2021 class. Power forward Keeyan Iterjere signed his LOI Wednesday.

The early signing period has now arrived with the first signing for Shaka Smart and the Texas Longhorns men’s basketball team. The team announced the signing of Keeyan Itejere of Grace Christian School in Raleigh, North Carolina. The 6’9″ power forward becomes the first signing of the class after the Longhorns only signed one player in 2020 class with five-star power forward Greg Brown.

Itejere is the No. 11 ranked player in the state according to 247Sports rankings. He likely will eventually fill the void on next year’s team after Brown leaves for the NBA. Brown had an opportunity to head to the NBA’s developmental league but chose to stay home in Austin to play for Texas.

Highlight via HUDL

Iterjere earned the nickname “Slinky” due to the fact that his tall and skinny. He could probably use a little more weight on him. Especially if Iterjere is going to be playing the four in the Big 12 where it can be a bit physical. The 2021 class has three more commits who have yet to sign their Letter of Intent, but Longhorns will keep you updated as the signings roll in.

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Texas offers 2022 four-star small forward from Kansas

UT has offered SF Aidan Shaw from Stilwell, Kansas. A four-star prospect, Shaw is the fifth SF the Longhorns has offered in the 2022 class.

Texas has offered small forward Aidan Shaw from Stilwell, Kansas. A four-star prospect, Shaw is the fifth small forward the Longhorns have offered in the 2022 class.

Continue reading “Texas offers 2022 four-star small forward from Kansas”

Texas Basketball Recruiting: 2021 four-star power forward names top nine

2021 four-star power forward Bryce Hopkins has narrowed down his list of schools to nine. The Texas Longhorns were among them.

The second rated player out of Illinois Bryce Hopkins has narrowed down his top nine schools. One school of note missing is Kansas. They offered the talented power forward but missed the cut. The Longhorns 2021 recruiting class is currently ranked 16th in the country with four commitments. David Joplin and Keeyan Itejere are also power forwards committed in the 2021 class. Hopkins is an impact player who could seemingly replace Greg Brown after his one and done season in 2020.

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
247 4 41 2 11
Rivals 4 34 – 6
ESPN 4 32 2 5
247 Composite 4 33 2 8

Vitals

Hometown Oak Park, Illinois
Projected Position Power Forward
Height 6-7
Weight 220

Recruitment

  • Offered on June 23, 2019
  • No visit scheduled

Offers

  • Texas
  • Kentucky
  • Michigan
  • Califorinia
  • Oregon
  • Iowa State
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Providence

Crystal Ball

Hopkins’ crystal ball projection is 100 percent to Kentucky

Twitter

Texas lands 2021 four-star combo guard from Kansas

Texas has landed a commitment from 2021 four-star guard Tamar Bates. Bates is the Longhorns’ fourth commitment in the recruiting class.

Texas has landed a commitment from 2021 four-star guard Tamar Bates. A 6-4 175 pound shooting guard, Bates is the Longhorns’ fourth commitment in the recruiting class.

Creighton, Kansas, and Missouri were the other three finalists. Bates talked about his decision with Stockrisers.com.

“I have an opportunity to play right away during my freshman year. I have built a great relationship with the coaching staff and they did a really great job of recruiting me.”

“We’re putting together a class that’s going to compete for a national championship along with the older guys that’ll already be there.”

Rating
Stars Overall State Position
247 4 116 14 9
Rivals 4 83 – 22
ESPN 4 – 7 26
247 Composite 4 112 14 8
Vitals
Hometown Kansas City, Kansas
Projected Position Point guard
Height 6-4
Weight 175
Recruitment
  • Offered on August 10, 2020
  • No visit yet
Offers
  • Texas
Twitter

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Texas basketball: Two of the top centers name Longhorns among top 10

Two of the top centers in the 2021 men’s basketball recruiting cycle have named the Texas Longhorns among their top 10.

In the 2020 men’s basketball recruiting cycle, Shaka Smart earned only one commitment. That came from the number four power forward in the country Greg Brown II. Brown’s recruitment came down to signing with Texas or making the jump to the NBA’s G League. It is well known that his freshman season with the Longhorns will be his only as he will make the jump to the NBA.

As for the 2021 class, the Longhorns have already found a potential replacement for Brown at the power forward position. Keeyan Itejere of Grace Christian in Raleigh, North Carolina has already committed to the Longhorns. The Longhorns are also on the shortened list for two of the top centers in the 2021 class.

The number five center in the country, Daimion Collons of Atlanta, Texas has named the Longhorns among his top ten schools. According to crystal ball predictions on 247Sports, Collins is 100% to Texas based off of three predictions submitted.

His top ten schools:

  • Texas
  • Houston
  • Oklahoma
  • Kansas
  • Alabama
  • LSU
  • Texas Tech
  • Arkansas
  • Oklahoma State
  • Baylor

The second top 10 announcement came from Canada’s Charles Bediako. He is the number one rated player from Ontario, Canada and number three center in the entire class. Bediako stands at 6’11” and 215 pounds. His crystal ball is a little less clear cut as there are two predictions. One is for Alabama and one is undecided.

Bediako’s top 10:

  • Memphis
  • Alabama
  • Texas
  • Baylor
  • Maryland
  • Duke
  • Tennessee
  • Michigan
  • Ohio State
  • Southern California

If Shaka Smart can land either of these two centers, it would be a major win for Texas men’s basketball. The Longhorns are looking to get back to the top of the Big 12 and they will likely need a dominant big man to help them get there.

WATCH: Highlights from Texas basketball’s win over California Baptist

Watch the highlights from the Texas Longhorns win over the California Baptist Lancers

On Tuesday night, the Texas Longhorns moved to 3-0 on the season and stay undefeated with a win over the California Baptist Lancers.

The final score: 67-54

The top scorers for the Longhorns were sophomore guard Courtney Ramey with 19 points and both Jericho Sims and Andrew Jones tallied 11 points each. Sims also added 11 rebounds, giving him a double-double.

Watch the highlights from the game below:

Via Stadium on YouTube

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Texas basketball stays undefeated with win over California Baptist

The Texas Longhorns stay undefeated as they defeat the California Baptist Lancers

Texas basketball is off to a hot start!

A few days ago, Texas pulled off an incredible upset on the road against Purdue with a final score of 70-66.

For an encore, the Longhorns hosted and defeated the California Baptist Lancers, 67-54. Texas now moves to 3-0 on the season. Guard Courtney Ramey was a standout for the Longhorns. He helped carry the team with 19 points on 8/11 shooting, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. He was, as some would say, a “stat sheet stuffer.”

Sophomore guard Andrew Jones was a huge plus off the bench for Texas. In 28 minutes of action, Jones shot 5/9 for 11 points. He also brought in five boards and two steals.

Up next for the Longhorns, Prarie View A&M comes to Austin on November 15th.

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WATCH: Jase Febres gets a vicious block vs California Baptist

Watch as Texas Longhorns guard Jase Febres swats a shot attempt by the California Baptist Lancers

Already three games into the 2019/20 Texas college basketball season, and the Longhorns are off to a 2-0 start.

On Tuesday night, the California Baptist Lancers came to Austin, also sitting with a 2-0 record.

With about 12:37 left in the game, Texas guard Jase Febres swats away a weak layup attempt by the Lancers. Febres may have learned a thing or two about blocking from former Longhorn Jaxson Hayes. On the night, Febres has six points on 2/9 shooting. He has averaged eight points per game.

Check out the highlight block below.

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