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.
Huge pickup for Chris Beard and the new Longhorn staff. || Story: https://t.co/qhNgFiukBU pic.twitter.com/LOvlDPvNXy
— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) April 13, 2021
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.